Chicago's Haitian Residents Await Earthquake News From Home

By Prescott Carlson in News on Jan 13, 2010 9:50PM

The Chicago area population of Haitian immigrants, currently estimated to be 40,000 people, are anxiously awaiting news and word from family and friends still in their home country after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Caribbean nation causing mass destruction. Bernard Geto, whose entire family is still in Haiti -- including a pregnant girlfriend -- told CBS 2, "I'm telling you, I love my family and I'm sure they love me, too and I'm not sure if they're alive or not," a sentiment certainly shared across the community as Haiti's heavily relied upon wireless communications network was severely damaged and there are few other options for contact.

One group that was able to get word out regarding their safety was a team of Chicago nurses who were in Haiti on a week-long humanitarian mission "providing primary care" to some of the country's impoverished citizens. They've already set up a "makeshift trauma care" unit, and are cobbling together any materials they can use to treat the injured.

Several Chicago area organizations have also leaped into action to collect funding and supplies for Haiti. The Chicago Red Cross is asking people to utilize social networks like Twitter and get the word out about relief efforts, and that $10 can easily be donated by simply texting the word "HAITI" to 90999 (yes, it's legit). The organization Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti in Evanston is also collecting donations as well as canned goods.