Lessons from the Earthquake in Haiti

I thank you all for your prayers and donations to the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Many tons of aid have already arrived and much more is still being shipped, but most of the Haitian people continue to go without food and water.

The reasons? The airport was severely damaged in the quake, and it has run out of fuel. There are no clear or safe passage ways to get the supplies to the people in Port-au-Prince, due to rubble and the country's long history of dangerous instability with militias. Equipment is desperately lacking to clear the roads and aid in rescuing those still trapped under rubble. The shipping harbor was also quite damaged. The electricity is out, which makes all efforts more difficult. Aid is pouring in, vessel after vessel, but it is just not getting to those in dire need. People will die because of this inefficiency.

Haiti's extreme poverty caused most buildings to be very poorly constructed, and thus, not earthquake-resistant, which caused an extremely high number of casualties. (Compare the 50,000-100,000 expected dead of this quake to the 63 dead in California's Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989). While the economy of the Western Hemisphere's poorest country is in the hands of their unfortunately inept government, there obviously was a serious lack of foresight in disaster planning, which, I suppose, goes back to their inept government. But you would think a Caribbean country that is hit often by hurricanes would have some semblance of a plan in place.

So in thinking about planning for disasters, I realized I don't have any in place for myself or my family. Do you? Do you know what to do if some large-scale disaster occurs, blocking all streets, cutting off electricity and communication? Do you have a reserve of survival supplies? Do you have the basic necessities in reserve to last through the wait for disaster relief? Do you have set meeting places for all of your loved ones to congregate?

While thinking about worst-case scenarios is not pleasant in the least, a little preparation could make the literal difference in your survival. Talk these issues over with loved ones and make plans. I don't suggest going overboard, as some did with Y2K preparations, but I do suggest you cover your bases. I know I'm going to.



On a slight tangent, I feel compelled to address something disgusting and disturbing said by televangelist Pat Robertson. He stated that Haiti deserved the wrath of God via this devastating earthquake. The reason:

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about. They were under the heel of the French, you know, Napoleon III and, whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the [French].' True story."

This statement is so obviously asinine, it doesn't even merit addressing, but it goes to show you what crazy, wealthy people will spout off when they delude themselves into thinking they can speak for God. Please pray for Pat Robertson's poor soul. And may God heal his mental illness.