COMSTOCK FOR DELEGATE BLOG
Haiti Earthquake Relief
Friday, January 15, 2010
The
Washington Post has an inspiring story about how our Fairfax County
rescue workers who went to Port-au-Prince on Wednesday to respond to
the tragic Haiti earthquake were successful in rescuing a United
Nations security officer who was trapped in rubble. This team consists
of Fairfax firefighters as well as doctors, dog handlers and structural
engineers. An additional forty two workers from the Virginia Task Force
1, Fairfax County's Urban Search and Rescue Team, are getting ready to
join the 72 workers already there at the request of federal officials
according to the Post.
While the Virginia Task Force 1 cannot accept offers for volunteers or equipment, their website www.vatf1.org advises that if you would like to donate to their team, donations may be sent to:
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
Urban Search and Rescue Section
4600 West Ox Rd
Fairfax, VA 22030
No doubt you have also heard about the Red Cross efforts and they have
already received $35 million for assistance and, of course, they still
need more aide to respond to this tragedy. By using your mobile phone,
you can text "Haiti" to the number 90999, and this will send an
immediate $10 donation that will be billed to your cell phone.
Currently the text program has raised over $5 million, with many more
donations expected. You can find out more information by visiting the
Red Cross website at www.redcross.org.
Finally, for any families of Americans living in Haiti, the White House
has advised contacting the State Department at 888-407-4747 for
information and the State Department has set up an e-mail address that
you can contact at www.state.gov to inquire about your loved ones.
Our thoughts and our prayers go out to all of those touched by this tragedy and to those who have rushed to their aide.
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