U.S. sailors aboard the USS Blue Ridge stand by to move humanitarian relief supplies across the ship's flight deck to a hovering helicopter

By Charlene Porter
IIP Staff Writer

Washington – More than 17 tons of medicines, supplies and hygiene products landed in Tokyo April 4, headed for the quake-battered northeastern region of Japan.

The U.S. disaster relief organization AmeriCares arranged the shipment of emergency medical supplies at the request of the Japanese government, according to an AmeriCares press release. The shipment is being delivered to AmeriCares’ partner in the region, the Tohoku University Hospital. From there, the aid will be sent out to medical teams treating the injured and ailing at 14 different hospitals and evacuation centers.

“The humanitarian condition in Japan is still dire,” according to the AmeriCares release, with more than 160,000 people living in evacuation centers, and thousands more staying in temporary shelters, even their cars. The shipment includes antibiotics, pain medications, sutures, bandages and wound dressings.

The Tohoku Hospital is in Sendai, the largest city in the earthquake zone, and has been assisting regional medical and evacuation centers in meeting medical needs since the March 11 disaster.

This is AmeriCares second major shipment of relief supplies into northeastern Japan since the earthquake, and it won’t be the last.

AmeriCares is expanding its relief team, anticipating an ongoing distribution of humanitarian aid to medical and evacuation centers in the months to come.

RADIATION MONITORING

The magnitude 9 earthquake and the tsunami that followed left a ravaged and devastated landscape in Japan, but when the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant began spewing radioactive steam and leaking radioactive water, the disaster jumped to a new level. As Tokyo Electric Power Company struggled to prevent a meltdown of the nuclear reactors, residents evacuated a 20-kilometer zone around the plant. Radiation has been detected in many parts of Japan and beyond since the leaks began, and monitoring equipment is widely distributed to continue to assess the invisible dangers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has surveyed the monitoring data and reported April 4 that levels seemed to have peaked about a week after the quake, and subsequent measurements detected less radiation in the air and water at most locations.

“[Radioactive] iodine levels have been on a generally downward trend following the peaks,” according to the 24th situation report issued by the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office since the beginning of the disaster.

Fresh food products from various locales around the region are being tested for radiation; WHO reports that only one sample in 134 exceeded safe levels of radiation. Still, bans on both consumption and distribution of fresh vegetables are in place in designated regions near the plant.

U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE

U.S. sailors and Marines of the 7th Fleet are still in the earthquake zone, helping the Japan Ground Self Defense Force in the massive effort to return the region to some kind of normal. In Operation Field Day, U.S. and Japanese forces are cleaning up the island of Oshima, which was isolated when the tsunami destroyed ferryboats that usually shuttle between the island and the mainland. The troops have been clearing debris out of the harbors to allow a resumption of boat traffic, and they’re cleaning up debris wherever else they are needed.

Colonel Andrew MacMannis, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, said his forces are “committed to helping out the people of Japan in any way possible.” He said these forces have significant capability to apply to the disaster area.

“We are proud to help the Japan Self Defense Forces begin the large task of getting the island back to normal,” MacMannis said.

U.S. troops and equipment of the U.S. Pacific Command stationed at various places in the region were headed to the area within 24 hours of the March 11 event. According to a Navy news release, the U.S. 7th Fleet has 14 ships, 130 aircraft and almost 14,000 personnel involved in the undertaking dubbed Operation Tomodachi, the Japanese word for “friendship.”

Seventh Fleet forces have also had the grim task of searching Pacific waters for the dead. Ships, helicopters and other aircraft are searching almost 7,000 square kilometers for victims dragged out to sea as the tsunami receded from the land.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.  Web site: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/index.html)

Haiti Disaster Relief Is Top U.S. Priority Right Now, Obama Says

THE WHITE HOUSE
Diplomatic Reception Room
January 14, 2010

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I’ve directed my administration to launch a swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti.

The losses that have been suffered in Haiti are nothing less than devastating, and responding to a disaster of this magnitude will require every element of our national capacity — our diplomacy and development assistance; the power of our military; and, most importantly, the compassion of our country. And this morning, I’m joined by several members of my national security team who are leading this coordinated response.

I’ve made it clear to each of these leaders that Haiti must be a top priority for their departments and agencies right now. This is one of those moments that calls out for American leadership. For the sake of our citizens who are in Haiti, for the sake of the Haitian people who have suffered so much, and for the sake of our common humanity, we stand in solidarity with our neighbors to the south, knowing that but for the grace of God, there we go.

This morning, I can report that the first waves of our rescue and relief workers are on the ground and at work. A survey team worked overnight to identify priority areas for assistance, and shared the results of that review throughout the United States government, and with international partners who are also sending support. Search and rescue teams are actively working to save lives. Our military has secured the airport and prepared it to receive the heavy equipment and resources that are on the way, and to receive them around the clock, 24 hours a day. An airlift has been set up to deliver high-priority items like water and medicine. And we’re coordinating closely with the Haitian government, the United Nations, and other countries who are also on the ground.

We have no higher priority than the safety of American citizens, and we’ve airlifted injured Americans out of Haiti. We’re running additional evacuations, and will continue to do so in the days ahead. I know that many Americans, especially Haitian Americans, are desperate for information about their family and friends. And the State Department has set up a phone number and e-mail address that you can find at www.state.gov — www.state.gov — to inquire about your loved ones. And you should know that we will not rest until we account for our fellow Americans in harm’s way.

Even as we move as quickly as possible, it will take hours — and in many cases days — to get all of our people and resources on the ground. Right now in Haiti roads are impassable, the main port is badly damaged, communications are just beginning to come online, and aftershocks continue.

None of this will seem quick enough if you have a loved one who’s trapped, if you’re sleeping on the streets, if you can’t feed your children. But it’s important that everybody in Haiti understand, at this very moment one of the largest relief efforts in our recent history is moving towards Haiti. More American search and rescue teams are coming. More food. More water. Doctors, nurses, paramedics. More of the people, equipment and capabilities that can make the difference between life and death.

The United States armed forces are also on their way to support this effort. Several Coast Guard cutters are already there providing everything from basic services like water, to vital technical support for this massive logistical operation. Elements of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division will arrive today. We’re also deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, and the Navy’s hospital ship, the Comfort.

And today, I’m also announcing an immediate investment of $100 million to support our relief efforts. This will mean more of the life-saving equipment, food, water and medicine that will be needed. This investment will grow over the coming year as we embark on the long-term recovery from this unimaginable tragedy.

The United States of America will also forge the partnerships that this undertaking demands. We will partner with the Haitian people. And that includes the government of Haiti, which needs our support as they recover from the devastation of this earthquake. It also includes the many Haitian Americans who are determined to help their friends and family. And I’ve asked Vice President Biden to meet in South Florida this weekend with members of the Haitian American community, and with responders who are mobilizing to help the Haitian people.

We will partner with the United Nations and its dedicated personnel and peacekeepers, especially those from Brazil, who are already on the ground due to their outstanding peacekeeping efforts there. And I want to say that our hearts go out to the United Nations, which has experienced one of the greatest losses in its history. We have no doubt that we can carry on the work that was done by so many of the U.N. effort that have been lost, and we see that their legacy is Haiti’s hope for the future.

We will partner with other nations and organizations. And that’s why I’ve been reaching out to leaders from across the Americas and beyond who are sending resources to support this effort. And we will join with the strong network of non-governmental organizations across the country who understand the daily struggles of the Haitian people.

Yet even as we bring our resources to bear on this emergency, we need to summon the tremendous generosity and compassion of the American people. I want to thank the many Americans who have already contributed to this effort. I want to encourage all Americans who want to help to go to whitehouse.gov to learn more. And in the days ahead, we will continue to work with those individuals and organizations who want to assist this effort so that you can do so.

Finally, I want to speak directly to the people of Haiti. Few in the world have endured the hardships that you have known. Long before this tragedy, daily life itself was often a bitter struggle. And after suffering so much for so long, to face this new horror must cause some to look up and ask, have we somehow been forsaken?

To the people of Haiti, we say clearly, and with conviction, you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten. In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you. The world stands with you. We know that you are a strong and resilient people. You have endured a history of slavery and struggle, of natural disaster and recovery. And through it all, your spirit has been unbroken and your faith has been unwavering. So today, you must know that help is arriving — much, much more help is on the way.

Thank you very much, everybody.

President Obama speaks from the White House

The White House
Diplomatic Reception Room
January 13, 201

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. This morning I want to extend to the people of Haiti the deep condolences and unwavering support of the American people following yesterday’s terrible earthquake.

We are just now beginning to learn the extent of the devastation, but the reports and images that we’ve seen of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes, and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching. Indeed, for a country and a people who are no strangers to hardship and suffering, this tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many Haitian Americans around our country who do not yet know the fate of their families and loved ones back home.

I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives. The people of Haiti will have the full support of the United States in the urgent effort to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, and to deliver the humanitarian relief — the food, water and medicine — that Haitians will need in the coming days. In that effort, our government, especially USAID and the Departments of State and Defense are working closely together and with our partners in Haiti, the region, and around the world.

Right now our efforts are focused on several urgent priorities. First, we’re working quickly to account for U.S. embassy personnel and their families in Port-au-Prince, as well as the many American citizens who live and work in Haiti. Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888/407-4747. I’m going to repeat that – 888/407-4747.

Second, we’ve mobilized resources to help rescue efforts. Military overflights have assessed the damage, and by early afternoon our civilian disaster assistance team are beginning to arrive. Search and rescue teams from Florida, Virginia and California will arrive throughout today and tomorrow, and more rescue and medical equipment and emergency personnel are being prepared.

Because in disasters such as this the first hours and days are absolutely critical to saving lives and avoiding even greater tragedy, I have directed my teams to be as forward-leaning as possible in getting the help on the ground and coordinating with our international partners as well.

Third, given the many different resources that are needed, we are taking steps to ensure that our government acts in a unified way. My national security team has led an interagency effort overnight. And to ensure that we coordinate our effort, going forward, I’ve designated the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Rajiv Shah, to be our government’s unified disaster coordinator.

Now, this rescue and recovery effort will be complex and challenging. As we move resources into Haiti, we will be working closely with partners on the ground, including the many NGOs from Haiti and across Haiti, the United Nations Stabilization Mission, which appears to have suffered its own losses, and our partners in the region and around the world. This must truly be an international effort.

Finally, let me just say that this is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share. With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are neighbors of the Americas and here at home. So we have to be there for them in their hour of need.

Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I would encourage those Americans who want to support the urgent humanitarian efforts to go to whitehouse.gov where you can learn how to contribute. We must be prepared for difficult hours and days ahead as we learn about the scope of the tragedy. We will keep the victims and their families in our prayers. We will be resolute in our response, and I pledge to the people of Haiti that you will have a friend and partner in the United States of America today and going forward.

May God bless the people of Haiti and those working on their behalf.

Thank you very much.

Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release January 13, 2010

ON-THE-RECORD BRIEFING

Remarks to the Press

By Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley

January 13, 2010

Washington, D.C.

MR. CROWLEY: We plan to do this several times during the course of the day. We had a conference call this morning with our ambassador, Kenneth Merten, who is our ambassador there, and supported by the DCM.

QUESTION: M-e-r-t-o-n?

MR. CROWLEY: Yeah. M-e-r-t-e-n.

QUESTION: T-e-n.

MR. CROWLEY: And David Lindwall, the DCM, as well as officials from the White House, Coast Guard, DOD, SOUTHCOM, USAID, and so forth, just to kind of get an update. And as the President has said, we want an aggressive and coordinated approach, and we’re going to do everything possible to not only help the people of Haiti but look after our American citizens as well.

What – our sense of where we are in Haiti this morning, there have been some reconnaissance flights launched by the Coast Guard. I think it will be very important through the morning just to kind of get that initial assessment, now that we have daylight, of exactly what we’re dealing with.

Ambassador Merten reported that he was able to talk twice with President Preval during the evening and overnight, as well as contact with other ministers of the Haitian Government. I think a couple of the priorities from the Haitian Government: number one, which is everybody’s priority, is search and rescue; and also to make sure that the air traffic control so that we can begin to use the airport and flow badly needed assistance to Port-au-Prince.

In that regard, we should have a disaster response team. A DART team from San Jose will be leaving there later this morning and will arrive in Port-au-Prince at the airport early this afternoon, roughly at 1:30. The Fairfax search-and-rescue team will depart Dulles airport later this morning and should arrive by mid-afternoon at the latest, on a charter aircraft, in Port-au-Prince.

QUESTION: Arrive what time?

MR. CROWLEY: Around 3 o’clock. But if we can get them there earlier – I mean, everyone has just kind of been poised to go, but the critical aspect is what’s the condition of the airport, and I’ll get into that in a second. And we have a Los Angeles search-and-rescue team standing by and thy will be coming into Haiti sometime probably during the night tonight, tomorrow.

QUESTION: A DLA team?

MR. CROWLEY: Yeah. On DOD airlift.

QUESTION: You said coming in tonight?

MR. CROWLEY: They’ll be arriving – right now, the schedule would be they’d arrive early tomorrow morning in Haiti. But again, our – if we can – now that we know our current – now that we know the airport appears to be relatively undamaged, open, and functional, if we can move assets in earlier, obviously, that is our preference.

QUESTION: I’m sorry. You said the airport’s relatively undamaged?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, our DCM, David Lindwall, at first light was able to move over to the airport, consult with some folks there. The tarmac appears to be in good shape. The tower is still standing. It’s unclear what specific – what is functioning. There were some reports overnight the tower had collapsed; that’s not true. Personnel at the airport report that lights are working. So it looks like the airport is available, and he reported that while he was there at the airport, actually one airplane landed. So that’s all good news, which means that we can flow assets in there during the course of the morning.

What else can I tell you?

QUESTION: What about U.S. citizens, U.S. officials –

MR. CROWLEY: Yeah. David Lindwall reported that there were some American citizens that have gathered at the airport. We’re going to dispatch a team out there to kind of work that aspect so that they – we can begin a flow of non-essential – of private citizens and non-essential personnel out of Port-au-Prince as soon as possible. You obviously relieve the burden on Haiti.

QUESTION: You mean, are you talking about –

MR. CROWLEY: Let me – on the matter of American citizens, obviously, overnight we were working our Warden system to account for our citizens and our Embassy employees. On the Embassy employee side, we have accounted for all of our American employees but one. We’re still working on that one case. And we remain greatly concerned about our Haitian colleagues who work at the Embassy. Clearly, they have lost family members. We know that. And in terms of a combination of Embassy employees and American citizens, we’ve been in touch with roughly 40 private citizens so far. That was through the night.

QUESTION: Haitians?

MR. CROWLEY: Americans. Just American citizens. I mean, we have somewhere between 40 and 45,000 American citizens in Haiti, and a small number have checked in. Some have actually come to the Embassy. A few of them have injuries, broken bones, that kind of thing. They are being treated in our health unit. A couple of people have been treated at the chancery in the ambassador’s residence. And when we are able to get – we may – there may be a Coast Guard helicopter that is arriving just about now that will be able to start to evacuate injured out of there.

QUESTION: Out of the Embassy?

MR. CROWLEY: Yes. Yes.

QUESTION: And that’s a Coast Guard helicopter?

MR. CROWLEY: Coast Guard helicopter.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: And it will land at the Embassy?

MR. CROWLEY: It will land, I – it’s a fair question. My assumption is it will land at the airport.

QUESTION: And where will it go to?

MR. CROWLEY: Hmm?

QUESTION: Where will it go to?

MR. CROWLEY: Don’t know, but a fair question to ask the Coast Guard.

QUESTION: Are those – P.J., are those –

MR. CROWLEY: They might come from Guantanamo. It would be one option.

QUESTION: Are those – a lot of the Americans, are they actually registered? I mean, do you –

MR. CROWLEY: In some cases, if you’re an American citizen in Port-au-Prince, you could register with the Embassy and be part of kind of a phone tree. Some are; some aren’t.

QUESTION: So any information on how many Americans might have been killed, injured?

MR. CROWLEY: We have – right now, we have no confirmed deaths. We know of a dozen who are injured that we are helping at the Embassy. Clearly, that number is going to go up during the course of the day. The Coast Guard is sending –

QUESTION: I’m sorry.

MR. CROWLEY: Okay, go ahead.

QUESTION: How many do you have?

MR. CROWLEY: We have roughly a dozen –

QUESTION: A dozen.

MR. CROWLEY: — who are being treated either at the Embassy in the medical unit there or, in a couple of cases, at the chancery by the ambassador and his staff.

QUESTION: You said that you’re beginning to flow citizens and non-essential personnel out. Why would you flow any U.S. Embassy personnel out of –

MR. CROWLEY: I didn’t say – all right, let me get to that in a second, okay? But obviously, there are American citizens, not Embassy employees –

QUESTION: No, I understand.

MR. CROWLEY: – at the airport, and we will help them depart whenever we can.

Let me make one other point. The Coast Guard has ships that are en route to Haiti. One could arrive – may be in the vicinity right now. Others will arrive both today and tomorrow. So we’re – you’re beginning – they have some capabilities, a helicopter platform, some limited medical capability on the ship. So you’re beginning to see the first personnel. We at the State Department are willing to – we will deploy whatever additional personnel are needed to be able to support and sustain operations at the Embassy, add to the security unit there as needed.

QUESTION: P.J. –

MR. CROWLEY: So these are things that we’ll be doing.

QUESTION: On the ships – could I just ask because it’s important?

MR. CROWLEY: Sure.

QUESTION: The ambassador had said that the most important thing they need right now is a hospital ship, and there apparently is one that could go in there. Has any hospital ship been sent?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, the hospital ships are – I think there’s one berthed in Baltimore. My understanding is that the Comfort has begun to recall its crew. I’ll defer to the Navy and the Pentagon on that. But you’re right – we will be – we’re already beginning the process of – there are teams that are standing by in various parts of the United States. And now that we know that the airport appears to be open, serviceable, you’re going to see a flow.

The moment the earthquake happened yesterday, the Coast Guard identified ships that were in the vicinity and began the flow towards Port-au-Prince, and you’re seeing the first of those arrive here very soon.

QUESTION: Is it the Comfort that’s in Baltimore?

MR. CROWLEY: I think the Comfort’s in Baltimore, yeah.

QUESTION: What about other types of, like, emergency initial supplies like shelter, water?

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, those are going to be priorities – how quickly we can get bulk supplies in there. But a ship like the Coast Guard ship will have a water generation capability. So these are all of the kinds of things that when we have the DART team on the ground early this afternoon, they will be starting to kind of line that stuff up – what can we get in, how fast can we get in, by what means. I think the military will be sending in an air traffic control team that – to really help make sure that you can run airport operations on an ongoing basis. And that was one of the things that President Preval mentioned to Ambassador Merten, because the airport’s going to be critical. The port at – the port of Port-au-Prince is going to be critical as we go through this.

To your point, one of the things that we will do at the State Department this morning is assess the American community in Port-au-Prince. Our Embassy community obviously has housing both adjacent to the Embassy and nearby. The housing came through the earthquake pretty well, but obviously, it’s – the stability of housing is in some cases open for question. Somebody was talking this morning about one of their houses that has a steel door on the front and the steel door is holding up the front facade of the house. So we’re assuming that some of the housing is not safe for habitation, so we’re going to be – we’re now starting to assess for ourselves how can we begin – as you’ve got airplanes that are moving in, obviously you have the opportunity to take citizens out, both private citizens and family members – that’s what I meant by nonessential personnel – so that again, you’re – we’ll begin to kind of relieve the burden on the Embassy so that all of our efforts can be concentrated on helping the people of Haiti.

QUESTION: And what about Embassy personnel, injuries to Embassy personnel? And you mentioned possibly sending in more security people for the Embassy. I understand you are sending in more security.

MR. CROWLEY: Yeah, that would be a standard thing. I think one other thing just to mention, because the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was just out and Ambassador Susan Rice has talked to the secretary general this morning. He is understandably concerned about UN personnel, a significant number, maybe a hundred or so, that are trapped inside the Hotel Christophe. Most of the UN staff were in the hotel at the time. And so just as we are concerned and offering our prayers and hopes for the people of Haiti, likewise, for our UN colleagues and our other diplomatic colleagues, we’re very focused on their needs and certainly looking at the status of the UN force that is in Port-au-Prince. That’ll be one of our –

QUESTION: And presumably, there are Americans among that force?

MR. CROWLEY: There are Americans among that force, but also the special representative and the leadership of the UN contingent in Haiti has been very important to the support of Haiti over the years. So we will be helping them as we get assets on the ground.

QUESTION: Is he still missing or –

QUESTION: You never answered the question about any injuries to Embassy personnel.

MR. CROWLEY: I think among those dozen that I talked about who were at the Embassy or at the chancery, some of those are Embassy personnel, some of those are American citizens, some of those are family members of our Haitian employees. I don’t have a specific number.

QUESTION: Okay. A couple of things: First of all, in terms of coordinating, like, what is Cheryl Mills’s role right now? And then also, I don’t mean this in, you know, any exploitative way, but President Clinton is obviously the UN special rapporteur for Haiti. Has the Secretary spoken to him? Are they coordinating any efforts together and just kind of –

MR. CROWLEY: I have no specific information. I am confident that the Secretary has spoken to the President – President Clinton – during the course of the evening.

QUESTION: Well, just because, like, even before the earthquake, they’ve been working together on this (inaudible).

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we – yeah, right. I mean, the Secretary has a long, close relationship with Haiti; the President has his UN role, and also, obviously, significant operations by the Clinton Global Initiative. So they are obviously heavily engaged in this. The Secretary, during the course of the evening and overnight, has been kept fully informed in Hawaii about the situation.

To your earlier question, we have a task force that we formed upstairs on the seventh floor. Counselor Mills is – along with Deputy Secretary Jack Lew, have been helping to run that task force, do the interagency coordination so that we’re tightly linked – the State Department, USAID, the military. I would say DHS has already come in and volunteered because behind – within the U.S. Government, behind USAID, you’ve got – FEMA has experience and assets and are standing by to provide additional support.

QUESTION: Is it correct – I heard this but I don’t know whether it’s correct – that the Secretary was actually going to meet with some Haitian officials – is that correct – on her trip?

MR. CROWLEY: I’ll take that question. I don’t know.

QUESTION: All right.

QUESTION: Has there been any thought to the Secretary breaking off her trip?

MR. CROWLEY: Not that I’m aware of.

QUESTION: How about stepping in to fill in the UN void? Is there any thought to that?

MR. CROWLEY: We – Ambassador Rice has been in close contact last night and this morning with the Secretary General. We’re, first and foremost, going to pledge to help the UN in any way possible. I think as part of our international coordination, obviously, a variety of countries have troops that are contributors to the UN mission. If that force needs to be augmented in some way, we’ll take a look at that. But right now, I think the urgency that the Secretary General expressed, we understand and we’re going to provide that support to the UN as quickly as possible, is to try to free those who are trapped inside the rubble of the UN headquarters.

QUESTION: Right. What about the immediate law-and-order needs?

MR. CROWLEY: I think now that – I mean, I’m –

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MR. CROWLEY: I understand that. It is – it’s a difficult situation on a good day. And clearly, that – last night, we were in consultation with Haitian police and interior and justice officials. We’ll be – that’ll be part of what we assess, is what the Government of Haiti needs. Obviously, law and order will be an important element of this, and you’re right. Now, how rapidly we can get additional forces on the ground to begin to help Haiti, this is all part of the assessment that is ongoing now.

QUESTION: And P.J., at this point, have you –

MR. CROWLEY: We’ve got to wrap up in a minute.

QUESTION: Okay. Have you evacuated any Americans or are we still in the stage of getting them staged –

MR. CROWLEY: I think the first Americans to leave will be those who are wounded who can be transported to the airport who might come off on this Coast Guard helicopter that is – if it kept its schedule, is on the ground now.

QUESTION: Okay. Before I got here, I was looking at Charlie’s notes. You said something about something is leaving San Jose?

MR. CROWLEY: There’s a DART assessment team that will be leaving San Jose.

QUESTION: Texas?

MR. CROWLEY: San Jose –

QUESTION: California? California.

MR. CROWLEY: Costa Rica.

QUESTION: Oh, Costa Rica.

MR. CROWLEY: Rica, yeah –

QUESTION: Oh, oh. Okay.

MR. CROWLEY: — and will be on the ground early this afternoon. Their assessment – they come with communications, and then the Fairfax search-and-rescue team under the current schedule will be on the ground by mid-afternoon.

QUESTION: Oh, okay.

QUESTION: And will, like, the UN headquarters be one of the priorities? I mean, where do you –

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, that will be – what we’re doing this morning is – I mean, obviously, there’s an enormous need, but we have – we will be helping the UN as quickly as we can.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. CROWLEY: Okay.

QUESTION: Thank you very much.

# # #

USAID Responds Immediately to Haiti Earthquake

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2010

Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810

www.usaid.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is dispatching a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and has activated its partners, the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team and the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue Team. The USAR teams will be composed of up to 72 personnel, 6 search and rescue canines and up to 48 tons of rescue equipment.

The USAR team will be accompanied by USAID disaster experts who will assist with assessments of the situation.

“This is a tragic situation and we will work alongside the Haitian government to provide immediate assistance in the rescue effort,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. “On behalf of the American people, I wish to convey our sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti who have been affected by this devastating earthquake.”

USAID will continue to provide additional support as needed.

For more information about USAID’s emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

President Barack Obama: Official Portrait

The following is from the White House Blog
See: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog for futher updates

The President gave the following statement tonight:

“My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake. We are closely monitoring the situation and we stand ready to assist the people of Haiti.”

The White House also put out this background information: The President was informed of the earthquake at 5:52pm. The President asked his staff to make sure that embassy personnel are safe, and to begin preparations in the event that humanitarian assistance is needed. The Department of State, USAID and the United States Southern Command have begun working to coordinate an assessment and any such assistance.

The State Department has a post up as well, with remarks from Secretary Clinton and ways to help:

As Secretary Clinton said earlier, the U.S. government will offer assistance to Haiti and others in the region in the form of civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.

For those interesting in helping immediately, simply text “HAITI” to “90999? and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.

Or you can go online to organizations like the Red Cross and Mercy Corps Mercy Corps to make a contribution to the disaster relief efforts.

We’ll provide more details and opportunities to help as we learn more. To stay up-to-date, follow us on state.gov.

Update: Further background from the White House: The President received another update on the situation in Haiti at approximately 8:30 PM from members of his National Security Staff. The President told them that he expects an aggressive, coordinated effort by the U.S. government.

Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon convened a meeting in the White House Situation Room at 10:00 PM this evening with senior representatives from: State, USAID, USUN, DOD, SOUTHCOM, JCS, DHS, Coast Guard, and National Security and White House Staff to coordinate the government-wide response, per the President’s request.

The President will receive an additional briefing on the situation early tomorrow morning as more information becomes available. Each agency is working overnight to ensure that critical resources are positioned to support the recovery effort, including efforts to find and assist American citizens in Haiti. Both the White House and the State Department are facilitating donations to the International Red Cross through their websites.

Secretary Clinton - Official Portrait

Remarks on the Earthquake in Haiti

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State
Honolulu, Hawaii

January 12, 2010

SECRETARY CLINTON:  We are still gathering information about this catastrophic earthquake, the point of impact, its effect on the people of Haiti. The United States is offering our full assistance to Haiti and to others in the region. We will be providing both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. And our prayers are with the people who have suffered, their families, and their loved ones.

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Emergency Numbers

Contact Number for Information on America Citizen Family Members in Haiti

January 12, 2010