Magnitude 7.0 - HAITI REGION

kdka.com...

Beware Of Bogus Charities For Relief In Haiti Reporting

It's a very sad reality that tragedies like the Haiti earthquake bring out the best and worst in people.

Scam artists are at it again. There's one on the internet right now that is bound to confuse the recipient.

And on top of all the scumbags out there, some credit card companies are taking some of your donations to line their own pockets.

It all adds up to the standard advice: donor beware.

If you get an email from the British Red Cross Society asking for a donation for Haiti relief, delete it immediately.

"Don't open it," says Warren King, president of the Better Business Bureau.

In fact, that's good advice for any unsolicited email or text request you get. The scammers are already out in force to take advantage of another human tragedy in Haiti.

"These con artists are going to take advantage of this," says King. "They're going to try to download viruses into your computer that will steal more information from you."

King says the British Red Cross Society email is only the latest scam. More are coming and good-hearted Americans will be victims if they don't take heed.

"Be proactive, not reactive," he said.

Seek out familiar charities you know and check them out at www.bbb.org where you can learn all kinds of information about them.

Then make certain the group you're giving to is a legitimate tax-exempt charity at www.irs.gov.

"Right on the front page today even there is a link on there telling you about the earthquake tragedy," says Andrew Hromoko of the IRS.

And here's something that may not seem right, but it's perfectly legal -- credit card fees.

"Monies that were donated to charities - $250 million of fees went to credit card companies," says attorney Clayton Morrow.

KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano: "$250 million skimmed off the top of donations to charities?"

"That's my understanding," Morrow said.

Morrow, who battles credit card companies for clients, says these companies are taking three percent of your donations in transaction fees.

So far, American Express and Visa are waiving the fees but you may have no alternative but to write an old-fashioned check.

"To make sure that 100 percent of the money goes to the charity that needs the money," he said.

Both American Express and Visa are extending the waiver only to donations to some better-known charities so you have to check with them.

The waiver expires at the end of February.

During most tragedies, credit card companies make huge profits as unknowing donors use their cards to make donations.

To get all your money to your charity, write a check.

reply to post by JBA2848


Oh yeah, i'm not donating a dime to anything. It's all corrupt or mishandeled. The chances that any money you contribute will make it to 1 haitian is slim to none. Your just going to end up making someone else rich, because in the really real world, you can't trust anyone when it comes to money...

I wouldn't trust Wyclef to give a dollar to any Haitian, you just can't be that gulible. Theres a saying that goes, "A fool and his money are soon parted"...

Originally posted by Brainiac
reply to post by JBA2848

 

Oh yeah, i'm not donating a dime to anything. It's all corrupt or mishandeled. The chances that any money you contribute will make it to 1 haitian is slim to none. Your just going to end up making someone else rich, because in the really real world, you can't trust anyone when it comes to money...

I wouldn't trust Wyclef to give a dollar to any Haitian, you just can't be that gulible. Theres a saying that goes, "A fool and his money are soon parted"...

I totally agree. I didn't donate to 911 either.
I don't give blood but that is better than monetaty donations.

Something developing in Haiti tents hospital, it seems that Anderson Cooper and Dr. Gupta were complaining to the newsroom that the UN came and took the doctors out of the tents because of security reasons, leaving people that were operated on by themselves with IVs and without supervision to fend for themselves.

It seems that this was done by the UN on their own, still another General no the southern command one but the one that was involved with Katrina said that that was not right.

Now they are going to find out who actually pull the doctors out and supposedly Dr. Gupta and Anderson are asking to the Newsroom to help with the Generals help, now they will be talking privately on the phone.

Interesting, Dr. Gupta will stay overnight with the people at the tent site.

www.sunherald.com...

Seabees head to Haiti
The Associated Press
GULFPORT, Miss. -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 will deploy to Haiti as part of the U.S. aid to the island country. They are expected to remain about six months.

Rob Mims, public affairs officer for the Naval Construction Battalion Center, tells The Sun Herald 85 Seabees and 690 short tons of mainly street-cleaning equipment are being sent to help with the cleanup of debris.

reply to post by JBA2848


That equipment should have been there to begin with, kind of late now, but hey the military keeps telling that Haiti is a logistics nightmare, I guess is worst once you are in the streets.

Something I noticed today at USGS. The initial quake of 7.0 struck at a depth of 13 km. ALL the subsequent aftershocks have struck at a depth of 10 km. Every last one. check it yourselves...
earthquake.usgs.gov...

Odd odd, I believe its Haarp.

reply to post by berkeleygal


I don't think it's HAARP but if you look at the USGS list of Worldwide EQ greater than 5 magnitude you will see that the majority of quakes for the last week were less than 30 degs latitude and most had a depth at or near 10 km. I stand by what I said a few pages back this has to do with changes in motion of the Earths crust.



[edit on 16-1-2010 by DEEZNUTZ]

Right, I've had my sleep and awake. A new morning, with some sad news;

Haiti says 200,000 may be dead, tensions rise (Reuters)http://(link tracking not allowed)/4DxYfW
half a minute ago from API

Security fears stalk Haiti as quake survivors await aid - BBC News http://(link tracking not allowed)/8MzYCO

AJEnglish
Haiti: Up to 200,000 feared dead: Bodies buried in mass graves as desperate survivors scramble for food and water. http://(link tracking not allowed)/4DLNin

Call from Jacmel. Supplies still not coming through. Relief needs to be pressed to go to the south. #haiti

USAF: Have gas, will travel. Joint force on the ground making a difference in Haiti. http://(link tracking not allowed)/8ba2FJ

[edit on 16-1-2010 by infinite]

From the IDF

#IDF aid delegation currently setting up largest field hospital in Port-au-Prince, #Haiti
26 minutes ago from web

Initial #IDF rescue crew arrived at the #UN HQ in #Haiti several hours ago & found ~120 ppl in need of medical care
26 minutes ago from web

IDF field hospital in #Haiti expecting to recieve first patients from collapsed #UN building and other places /via @IDFinHaiti

Airport capacity still reduced, no fuel, non-functioning air control tower. Flights diverting to DR but also congested [Plan, #Haiti]
half a minute ago from HootSuite

#redcross mobile field hospital can treat upto 200 seriously wounded people a day, says Brin from Norway. #haiti
about 1 hour ago from Tweets60

[edit on 16-1-2010 by infinite]

Originally posted by berkeleygal
Something I noticed today at USGS. The initial quake of 7.0 struck at a depth of 13 km. ALL the subsequent aftershocks have struck at a depth of 10 km. Every last one. check it yourselves...
earthquake.usgs.gov...

Odd odd, I believe its Haarp.

Not unusual that the depth of 10 km is steady. That's where the plate activity is, but if that plate keeps pushing something's going to give soon.
Looks like the whole island chain just might crumble into the depths of the ocean soon.
Maybe that's why the UN pulled out.

@BreakingNews: Authorities in #Haiti rounding up troublemakers to prevent sporadic looting from turning into wider violence - Reuters

RT @pragmatic_rebel More deaths reported in #Haiti in 2 days after the quake due to lack of medical relief - more than 400k feared dead

UN moving 5000 troops from across Haiti to Port-au-Prince: MEXICO CIY, Jan 15 (AFP) – The United Nations is redepl... http://(link tracking not allowed)/8s0sd5
less than 20 seconds ago from twitterfeed

Haiti earthquake: Friday news updates: Read more 9:49 pm — A top United Nations official acknowledges that the ear... http://(link tracking not allowed)/56ZhrG
less than 20 seconds ago from twitterfeed

UN Appeals for $562 Million for Humanitarian Operation in Quake-Struck Haiti: 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — UNICEF ... http://(link tracking not allowed)/7GLXHO
less than 20 seconds ago from twitterfeed

[edit on 16-1-2010 by infinite]

Originally posted by infinite

RT @pragmatic_rebel More deaths reported in #Haiti in 2 days after the quake due to lack of medical relief - more than 400k feared dead

Anyone know where they got that estimate from? That's substantially higher than what the aid organizations have been predicting.

reply to post by Kaploink


UN is not counting and I believe it was the RedCross who mentioned a possible 200,000 deaths

I'll ask around (Al Jazeera are reporting 200,000 dead)

Update: (on a different matter)

The UN has denied it ordered doctors to leave medical camps, but Hatians reported the UN doctors did walk out.

Frightened #Haitians run from wobbly buildings as strong aftershock hits, complicating rescues – AP

[edit on 16-1-2010 by infinite]

[edit on 16-1-2010 by infinite]

According to the Icelandic Team the unrest is exaggerated , they have been met with nothing but gratitude and incredible patience.

Update Jan 16 1630z



UNHAS ANNOUNCEMENT

Please note: a slot system for Port-au-Prince airport (MTPP) has been created.

Special temporary access procedures for MTPP effective 1001160001 UTC until further notice.

At the request of ICAO and Haiti's neighboring states in support of earthquake relief operations, the US government has established temporary air traffic flow management procedures for flights into MTPP (Port-au-Prince airport).

All fixed-wing aircraft flying to MTPP are required to be on an active IFR flightplan and prior to departure obtain arrival slot times from the Haiti Flight Operations Coordination Center. PHONE NUMBER 001-850-283-5477.

Arrival slot times are valid +/-20 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.

If unable to meet scheduled arrival slot times, contact the Haiti Flight Operations Coordination Center or your controllng agency to coordinate new slot times.

Departures from MTPP must comply with normal ATC procedures.

All operators are advised that fuel and other ground support services may be unavailable.

www.cnn.com...

The second photo of them dumping bodies out of the dump truck in a hole is desturbing.

Well this is interesting fox news could no compete with CNN Dr. Gupta and the other guy I forgot the name, they are becoming very popular, so now they got their own Geraldo from Iraq arriving with the 82 battalion to get Fox in the spot again.

Anything for ratings

www.wtsp.com...

Haitian doctor takes 100 patients into his home
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- The home of a Haitian pediatrician has been turned into a hospital ward for earthquake victims.

Somehow, the house wasn't damaged in Tuesday's quake, which leveled nearly all the other houses in the hillside neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Soon after the shaking stopped, neighbors started showing up at Claude Surena's doorstep.

Now, he's running a triage center, treating patients on his shaded patio with food and supplies salvaged from ruined homes.

Conditions are far from ideal. Plastic buckets serve as toilets, and for some patients he can only change dressings on infected wounds. But they are better off than those who lie in the dirt under a merciless sun.

The doctor calls it "a blessing from God" that his house was spared.

With the help of two other doctors, Surena has treated more than 100 people. He says at least 10 are in critical need of more substantial help. And 18 have died, including a pregnant woman and her baby, who didn't survive a rudimentary C-section.

So how many doctors in the US would do something like this.