We’ve received notice that several of our clients are concerned about relatives and loved ones who are missing in Haiti. Other clients have asked us about ways their organizations can help. We will use this post to link to helpful resources, and will update our list when we find additional resources:
Looking for loved ones in Haiti
The U.S. Embassy in Port Au Prince has set up a task force at the Embassy which is taking calls as conditions permit. The Embassy is working to identify Americans in Haiti who need urgent assistance and to identify sources of emergency help.
- Americans are urged to contact the Embassy via email at ACSPaP@state.gov to request assistance
- Americans in Haiti can call the Embassy’s Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672.
- The State Department has also created a task force to monitor the emergency. People in the U.S. or Canada with information or inquiries about U.S. citizens in Haiti may reach the Haiti Task Force at 888-407-4747. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, call 202-501-4444. Note: due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording.
- To reach or find Haitian residents, the Red Cross recommends that callers continue to call or text family members who live nearby.
CNN ireport: looking for loved ones in Haiti – Are you searching for a family member or friend in Haiti? Upload his or her photo on CNN’s ireport.
Family Links – The aim of the Family Links website is to accelerate the process of restoring contact between separated family members. It is managed by the ICRC, in cooperation with the tracing services of the Haitian Red Cross Society and of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies throughout the world. At this stage, the website offers the possibility for persons in Haiti and abroad to publish the names of relatives with whom they are striving to restore contact. It will progressively incorporate information offering responses to those queries. (Note: The ICRC has no means of verifying the information sent through the network. It is not responsible for any inaccurate information given through the services made available on this site.)
How you can help:
Red Cross: People can make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org , or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). The public can also help by texting “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. This donation will be charged to your next cell phone bill. Funds will go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund:
- Online donations page
- Text the word “QUAKE” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, charged to your cell phone bill
- Mail to: Mail: The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund / c/o William J. Clinton Foundation / Donations Department / 610 President Clinton Avenue / Little Rock, AR 72201 – OR –
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund / c/o Communities Foundation of Texas / 5500 Caruth Haven Lane / Dallas, TX 75225
Other resources:
- USAID: How You Can Help
- CNN: Impact Your World – Haiti resources
- MSNBC: Haiti Earthquake: How to Help
- Huffington Post: Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help
Scam alert
FBI warning of Haiti earthquake scams
- FBI says don’t click on links or files in unsolicited donation request e-mails
- Do not ever donate cash; don’t give your credit card info to people phoning for donations
- Ask if charity is registered and what percentage of money goes to victims
News resources
- CNN: Haiti Earthquake
- CNN: What we’re hearing via social media – CNN is monitoring tweets and other messages from people in Haiti and reports from those who said they have been in touch with friends and family. CNN has not been able to able to verify this material.
- New York Times: Haiti coverage
- Also: live Haiti news blogging on the NYT news blog, The Lede.
- Miami Herald: Ongoing coverage of the earthquake in Haiti
- CNN list: @cnnbrk/haiti http://twitter.com/cnnbrk/haiti
- NPR list: @nprnews/haiti-earthquake http://twitter.com/nprnews/haiti-earthquake
- Haiti reporters list @huffingtonpost/haiti-reporters http://twitter.com/huffingtonpost/haiti-reporters
- Governmental and non-governmental organizations: @huffingtonpost/haiti-ngos-government http://twitter.com/huffingtonpost/haiti-ngos-government
Managing trauma in the workplace
Workplace Critical Incident Resources from the Employee Assistance Professional Association. In particular, see their page on Haiti resources and the following information on traumatic events:
- Identifying traumatic reactions in the workplace
- Symptoms: Impact from a traumatic incident
- Ideas for managers: Supporting a grieving employee
- Tips for managers after a workplace critical event
- Coping with Traumatic Events – National Institute for Mental Health
Also see our prior post: The aftermath of Katrina: HR lessons learned