Posts Tagged ‘Earthquake’

The Salvation Army in Southern California released an update about their aid work to communities along the US/Mexico border that were struck by an earthquake Easter Sunday. Below are excerpts of the update, and a full report can be found on The Salvation Army Western Territory’s Expect Change blog.  You can also find the photos from this post and more on their Flickr page here.

Photos: El Centro Salvation Army personnel and volunteers serve up hot spaghetti dinners and distribute needed items to families affected by the recent earthquake in Mexicali.

The Salvation Army emergency disaster vehicles took water, fresh fruit, snacks and spaghetti dinners into Mexico to serve 500 of those hardest hit by Sunday’s 7.2 earthquake.

“Led by Mexican police escorts, we travelled two and a half hours into Baja California, Mexico, around buckled roads, through washes and down dirt paths to an area where we found 500 people gathered on a concrete slab waiting for assistance,” reported Captain Jerry Esqueda who led the trip.  “We fed them a hot spaghetti dinner with bread and apples, prayed with them and encouraged them.”

After the meal, The Salvation Army distributed enough emergency food to last four more days:  canned beef stew, powdered milk, water, Corn Flakes, bread and pasta.  All in all, Captain Esqueda says The Salvation Army supplied food for 6,000 meals.

For more information on The Salvation Army’s efforts, visit our Western Territory’s website or the Sierra Del Mar Division website for the Baja specific relief donations.

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Aftershocks continue to rattle residents along the U.S.-Mexico border following Easter Sunday’s  magnitude 7.2 earthquake whose epicenter was located just outside of Mexicali.  Some 20 million people from Tijuana to Los Angeles are said to have felt it.

The Salvation Army is diligently serving in the Calexico and El Centro areas, which were the hardest hit cities within the United States.

Vicky Esqueda, a captain with The Salvation Army in El Centro, says, “El Centro’s main street has a lot of structural damage with fallen brick, busted storefront windows, and garbage everywhere. The hospital set up a triage outside with numerous people coming in with broken bones.”

Her husband was injured during the earthquake.  Jerry Esqueda, also a captain with The Salvation Army, injured his arm and knee when he fell during the disaster, but after he was treated at an emergency room, the Esquedas began helping other earthquake victims in El Centro.

“The corps has set up beds for those needing shelter and we are busy feeding and handing out water,” said Vicky.

The Salvation Army is sheltering and feeding at its Community Center in El Centro multiple families whose homes suffered damage from the quake. Thirty individuals were housed last night.  Volunteers and staff are busy preparing meals in the center’s kitchen, which will be distributed along with bottled water, fruit and snacks by Salvation Army mobile kitchen units, known as canteens.  The Salvation Army now has two emergency canteens in the El Centro and Calexico area, serving first responders as well as those affected by the earthquake.

Other workers and volunteers are helping with clean up as well as assessing damage to Salvation Army buildings and thrift stores.

Those who would like to help with relief efforts may send donations to:

The Salvation Army
(designate Baja/Imperial Earthquake)
PO Box 503580
San Diego, CA 92150-3580

Or CALL 1 866-455-4357
Or donate ONLINE at www.sandiego.salvationarmy.org



The Salvation Army in Chile is focusing their tsunami relief response mainly on the communities of Dichato and Caleta Tumbes. Many locals here fled to high ground and watched as the tsunami destroyed their homes, possessions and livelihoods, and in some instances took the lives of their loved ones.

One woman lost her 92-year-old father who decided to stay in their house after trusting his son, a local fisherman, that the sea well would not reach the house. On any other night that would have been true – but not on this occasion.

Another fisherman explained that he didn’t think about the boat he left behind as he and his family fled, and now he doesn’t know how he’ll be able to afford to pay for a new one.  His family is currently living with many others in tents and makeshift shelters in woods on high ground inland from their homes.

The tsunami destroyed the communities’ fishing fleets, and this time of year is the most important for sardine fishermen. The season lasts only three months, and many earn almost their entire annual income during this short period.

The secretary of the fishermen’s cooperative in Dichato said: ‘The young men may be able to retrain to do something else but many of us are too old. All we know is fishing – it is our livelihood, it is our life.’

In addition to providing food, water, clothes, and spiritual support, The Salvation Army in Chile is considering raising donations for the purpose of replacing the boats that were swept away.

The secretary of the fishermen’s cooperative in Caleta Tumbes thanked The Salvation Army for all it was doing in the community and appealed for it to continue to give assistance.

If you would like to support The Salvation Army’s ongoing relief efforts in Chile, please visit our online donation page.

Information provided by Major Raelton Gibbs of The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services

The Salvation Army’s Major Laurie Robertson reports that recommendations coming out of a Salvation Army international strategy conference held in London confirm that The Salvation Army will be heavily and closely involved in rebuilding Haiti well past the conclusion of the current emergency situation caused by January’s massive earthquake.

The conference was attended by a delegation from The Salvation Army’s Caribbean Territory, representatives from 10 Salvation Army territories involved in the relief and rebuilding process, personnel from The Salvation Army USA National Headquarters, Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), and The Salvation Army International Headquarters.

The emergency phase for The Salvation Army in Haiti is expected to last for another six to nine months. During this time The Salvation Army will continue to care for 20,000 displaced people who are living in cramped camp conditions on a soccer field in Port-au-Prince. Emergency assistance will also be ongoing for those who were adversely affected in Jacmel and Petit Goave.

One of the urgent challenges for The Salvation Army is the relocation of the 20,000 people from its emergency camp to transitional housing. It is hoped this housing will be constructed before the end of the year.

The Salvation Army in Port-au-Prince provides essential services to one of the poorest areas in Haiti and conference delegates strongly expressed their belief that The Salvation Army’s facilities needed to be rebuilt as quickly as possible. Most of its buildings have been so badly damaged that they will need to be demolished.

During the next few months prioritization of the transitional and long-term projects will take place, applications for further funding will be processed and some projects commenced while emergency relief service continues.

For more information about The Salvation Army’s work in Haiti, visit the Haiti Division’s website or their Facebook page.

One month following the destructive magnitude 8.8 earthquake and tsunami that struck Chile, The Salvation Army continues distributing  help throughout the country. More than 15,000 people have been assisted and 14,000 rations of food provided to individuals and families. Some 350 volunteers have given their help.

A campaign called ‘Strong Arms Around Chile’ has been set up to help collect donations and goods that can be delivered to the neediest Chileans.

In the area around the capital, Santiago, coffee, hot meals and other services continue to be offered.

The south of the country, particularly coastal regions, was most affected by the disaster and this area is where The Salvation Army is focusing its efforts.

Four hundred baskets with basic necessities have been given out in Caleta Tumbes, which was affected by both the quake and tsunami. Salvation Army workers are helping to clear debris in this area. The Salvation Army is also distributing family baskets with basic necessities such as food, water, hygiene products, and clothes to families who are sleeping outdoors since they no longer have homes.

In Concepción, around the epicentre of the earthquake, family baskets were distributed at a camp in the centre of the city.

In nearby Hualpén, a well on the grounds of Hualpencillo Corps (church) is providing water to the neighbourhood.

The Salvation Army’s Central Division in Chile sent 20 tons of food, clothing and water to the cities of Concepción and Hualpén, including some goods purchased with funds received from overseas.

The supplies were organized in a reception centre at Concepción Corps. The corps officers went to the affected zones to see where the aid was most needed and the community of Dichato was identified. Unfortunately, because of contamination, the military was not allowing people into the community.

Eventually a Salvation Army team was allowed to visit the New Dawn camp in Dichato, which is made up of 180 families – approximately 850 people. The team also visited Villa los Sauces, which has a number of temporary settlements, and the area of Coliumo, where many people are living in small makeshift camps along the side of the road.

In each of these places goods were given out, including food, water and some tents. Three volunteers, rotating every few days, are living in a tent in the New Dawn camp and there are plans to set up a community kitchen. Salvationists and volunteers have helped clear debris and have lifted people’s spirits with times of worship.

In an emergency services coordination meeting, it was decided that Concepción Corps would take responsibility for people in Dichato, Coliumo, Lota, Coronel and Hualqui. The corps at Hualpén will visit and document the communities of Las Salinas, Lenga, Talcahuano and Caleta Tumbes. Some of these areas are dealing with devastation from both the earthquake and the tsunami.

Major Raelton Gibbs (International Emergency Services) is now in Chile to assist and advise the local Salvation Army teams.

The Salvation Army has been shown great appreciation by those receiving help. Many are simply happy still to be alive. The Chilean Salvation Army continues to work and aid those in need by providing not only material necessities but also spiritual comfort.

To help support The Salvation Army’s ongoing relief efforts in Chile, visit our online donations page.

Espwa means “hope” in Creole, the native language of Haiti. This idea of hope  has been a general theme and desire for both citizens and aid workers who are joining together to rebuild Haiti after January’s disastrous earthquake.

From this shared goal has formed the Espwa Project,  a labor of love and an endeavor to bring hope to Haiti by wearing hope. When you give to The Salvation Army’s Espwa Project, a way to support our ongoing relief efforts in Haiti, you will receive a specially designed t-shirt with this inspiring message.

As the Espwa website points out, “Hope, like laughter, is contagious. Each time you wear your [espwa] t-shirt, you spread its message of hope.”

Visit The Salvation Army Haiti Division’s Espwa Project wesbite for information.

The following report is a personal account of Haiti’s January 12 earthquake as seen through the eyes of The Salvation Army’s Divisional Commander Lucien Lamartiniere. It was submitted by Stacy Howard, Public Information Officer for The Salvation Army’s Haiti Incident Command in Port-au-Prince.

Jan. 12, 2010 – 3:30 PM.

He described it as any other afternoon. The Salvation Army’s Haiti Divisional Commander Lucien Lamartiniere wrapped up a meeting at the Divisional Headquarters building. It ran later than expected.

The Major dropped his wife Marie off at a friend’s house. He noted this as being the first time ever, she didn’t want to go straight home with him, but wanted to visit her friend.

4 PM.

Major Lamartiniere planned to stop at the store to buy a drink. He forgot, and headed home.

4:45 PM.

He stood in his kitchen where he opened the fridge to grab a drink. The earth shook, his house began to crumble around him and in what he says “felt like forever” he ran outside. His gate was locked. The earth still shook – hard enough to break the gate open. He ran into the street where he watched his own house and his neighbors’ collapse. “I thought it was the end of the Earth,” Lamartiniere said.

4:46 PM.

The shaking stopped. In less than one minute, one of the most devastating earthquakes in history nearly demolished an entire country. He called his wife. No answer. He walked to search for her. When he finally arrived at her friend’s house, he breathed a sigh of relief as their house still stood. But Marie had left – to search for him.

5 PM.

Marie returned home, to see their car smashed under the caved-in house. She feared the worse.

5:10 PM.

Major Lamartiniere arrived on foot, back at his house where he reunited with his wife.

Two months later he shares his story as if it happened yesterday. Watching his eyes it’s clear every time he speaks of the quake he’s immediately taken back to the time, the place, the fear…and the hope.

He credits four miracles from God, as the reasons he survived what at least 230,000 others did not.

1. The meeting ran late. Had it finished earlier the participants likely would have been shopping in a location where most buildings fell.
2. Marie went to her friend’s house to visit. The house survived, while hers did not. She would have been in her own kitchen preparing dinner. The roof caved in over the kitchen and dining room.
3. The Major forgot to stop at the store. That store no longer exists.
4. His instinct told him to run, the second the shaking started. Many Haitians’ deaths are said to be due to lack of understanding in how to properly escape. Many thought they should stay inside for shelter.

Since the day that forever changed Haiti, Lamartiniere says many people who never sought The Salvation Army’s services before, now flock to the organization for help. The staff originally found some food that survived in storage and began cooking meals for those in need.

Once The Salvation Army established an Incident Command to spearhead the relief efforts, people began to form a tent city camp next to the former Divisional Headquarters, school and clinic which partially collapsed. With aid from around the world, The Salvation Army began its ongoing food distributions which now feed 20,000. One camp member expressed his gratitude to the Incident Command Team. “Without The Salvation Army we would die. Thank you.”

The Majors still live in a tent in the former Divisional Headquarters’ parking lot. They wanted and needed to be with their people, to let them know they were there beside them.

Major Lamartiniere’s primary hope for the future is to move people into permanent housing outside Port-au-Prince.

His outlook is simple. “I know The Salvation Army can’t do everything…but we’re going to be here to do what we can.”

The Salvation Army set up a Haiti relief fund and is accepting monetary donations. Donors may contribute $10 via their phone bill by text messaging the word “HAITI” to 52000, and confirming the donation with the word, “Yes.”  Donors can also give via www.salvationarmyusa.org, 1-800-SAL-ARMY and through the mail at: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 with designation “Haiti Earthquake.”

The Washington Post ran a story today about the threat that Haiti’s upcoming rain and flood season poses to the 700,000 people still living in tent cities in Port-au-Prince. The article discussed the severe sanitation problems that could arise and spread in the congested camps as a result of rain, saying:

“With the rains come the risk of water-borne diseases, which create intestine bacteria and diarrhea, and diarrhea is deadly to children,” said Simon Ingram, a spokesman for UNICEF. The organization estimates that 250,000 children are displaced. In addition, health-care providers noted that the rain can also escalate malaria cases as mosquitoes reproduce near stagnant water.

Relief workers are striving to educate as many displaced individuals and families as possible on the importance of registering with aid agencies so that they may better assess need and plan for relocation before the rains hit. The Salvation Army has been working to register Haitians early on in our relief efforts, and UPS donated use of their high-tech Trackpad technology to increase speed and efficiency of our registration process.

The Salvation Army has also submitted a proposal to USAID for funding to provide 10,000 transitional shelters for the 20,000 Haitians over whom we care for near our Port-au-Prince headquarters. These shelters will provide greater protection against the torrential rains and support a more sanitary environment for Haitians to live in. A more detailed description of the project proposal can be found on an earlier blog entry, and we will post any updates on this project as they become available.

For more information about our work in Haiti, please visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You may also contribute to our ongoing Haiti relief efforts by donating online.

The Salvation Army’s next meal packing event for Haiti disaster relief will take place in the Los Angeles, CA area on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13, 2010. If you live in or near this area, come show your support for those in need by rolling up your sleeves and helping! Our goal is 1 million meals, so bring your friends!

Again, here are the details:

WHAT: Million Meals for Haiti Packaging Event with The Salvation Army and Numana

WHO: You and Anyone Else You Can Recruit (ages 12 yrs.or older, please!)

WHEN: Teams are being recruited for the following shifts:
Friday, March 12
8:00AM to 12:00PM
12:00PM to 4:00PM
4:00PM to 8:00PM

Saturday, March 13
8:00AM to 12:00PM
12:00PM to 4:00PM
4:00PM to 8:00PM

WHERE: The Salvation Army’s warehouse at 5600 Rickenbacker Road, Building 1C and 1D, Bell, California. Click here for a map to the Bell warehouse.

And don’t forget to register online!

For more information, visit The Salvation Army’s Southern California website. You can also find helpful details on their  blog and Facebook page.

The following was submitted by The Salvation Army’s Stacy Howard, who is serving as the Public Information Officer for Haiti Incident Command in Port-au-Prince:

“Both armies wear a uniform; both are respected as two of the most organized groups in the world; both have a common mission in Haiti.

The Salvation Army’s goal is to help survivors of the massive quake with a hand up – to provide support through basic need, medical and spiritual assistance.  The U.S. Army’s Haiti Relief Mission: Provide humanitarian support to the country’s surviving population, most of which have been injured or affected by the earthquake in some way.  Together the two armies have formed a unique and powerful partnership since the quake. Together they assist, aid, protect and serve.

“The Salvation Army was receptive and there was mutual respect,” said Lt. Cody Tinsley, 1 Platoon, A Company, 2 Battalion, 325 Air Infantry Regiment regarding the first of what became many joint missions of food distribution.  As the platoon leader, Tinsley led operations that included safely escorting The Salvation Army staff and distribution items via military convoy and security for the nearly 8,000 displaced families.  While the U.S. military took charge of security measures, The Salvation Army ran the distribution. At the twice-a-week event, nearly 16,000 people received boxed meals provided by Numana, buckets and bottles of cooking oil.

As expected immediately after the quake, disorder and chaos ensued from thousands who rushed for the items.  Tinsley said together, both Armies quickly controlled the situation after assessing the needs and safety issues of all involved.

Once distributions became a regular mission of the Armies, the ebb and flow made it simple for families to be served.  At post-mission debriefings the two Armies discussed ways to improve distribution, shared ideas and came up with a plan that worked for everyone, Tinsley said. Because of mutual respect and trust, each Army let the other take the lead in the area they knew best.

In the end, the Haitian disaster relief is a humanitarian mission for both Armies. Despite the sometimes intimidating appearance the U.S. military might portray, as Tinsley said, they adapt to the mission. They realize this is not a war zone. They aren’t here to occupy, they’re here to protect and serve – and at times, even entertain.

Several members of the platoon played music and danced to entertain the families in line. The children’s faces lit up.  Tinsley said it’s important to remind the survivors we’re all here to help – whether it’s with food, security or a little comedic relief.

The Salvation Army has been in Haiti since 1950, and will remain.  The U.S. Army will also stay as long as they’re needed to provide support.  Whether in Haiti, or elsewhere in the world, The Salvation Army and U.S. Army have and will continue to partner during disaster relief operations with a joint goal:  Restore humanity and hope.

Two armies – one mission.”

To stay updated on The Salvation Army’s work, visit our national website at www.salvationarmyusa.org or follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.