An emergency medical organization that is sending teams from the Northwest to Haiti says it could remain there for up to five years.
Medical Teams International’s Washington state director, Linda Ranz, said the organization’s first team from the Northwest arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday morning, and another team left for Haiti on Sunday.
Ranz said the organization expects to maintain a presence in Haiti for up to five years. The group doesn’t want to just heal the wounded and leave, but make sure Haitians have access to adequate medical care for the long term.
The teams include doctors, nurses and other medical and planning staff from Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
McChord C-17s depart to aid Haiti
Two C-17 cargo planes from McChord Air Force Base are on their way to assist in Haiti relief efforts.
The planes left Sunday morning, one for Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and the other to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. They’ll pick up specialized teams and relief supplies to bring to Haiti.
Two other C-17s and four aircrews remain on alert at McChord for additional humanitarian relief missions.
Obama taps reserves to support Haiti relief
President Barack Obama has issued an order allowing selected members of the military’s reserves to be called up to support earthquake relief and recovery operations in Haiti.
Signed on Saturday and released by the White House on Sunday, the executive order permits the Defense Department and Homeland Security Department to tap reserve medical personnel and a Coast Guard unit that will help provide port security.
A White House statement said the authority will be used on a limited basis, but doesn’t provide numbers or the names of units.
Donation info
For ways to donate money to relief efforts for earthquake-devastated Haiti, click on this story online at The Herald’s Web site, www.heraldnet.com
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