On January 12 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, 17 km south of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Initial reports suggest widespread damage and a high number of casualties.

BCLC is coordinating with relief agencies and NGOs on the ground in Haiti.

BCLC hosted a conference call on January 15 with NGO and government representatives.  According to the call, the airport in Port-au-Prince is open to humanitarian flights but runway capacity is low. The major seaport in Haiti is closed, although goods can be transported into the country through smaller ports. Cell towers are heavily damaged and communications is a major problem. 

There are no rooms or tents available for volunteers, so first responders are suggesting that only the most-needed personnel should travel to the country.

Urgent needs are for search and rescue teams, heavy equipment for debris removal, water, food, medical supplies, and transportation equipment. 

BCLC suggests that companies work with reputable disaster aid providers and let first responders do their jobs. Companies should coordinate directly with their NGO partners to provide both cash and in-kind donations. If you need assistance or direction for coordinating with NGOs, contact us.