This has been a rough week. Hurricane Matthew slowly tore its way across Haiti, other parts of the Caribbean, and is now making its way towards Florida.
I've rewritten this post a few times now, because I've been struggling with articulating. So, here goes.
How I've been feeling:
I've been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster: I watched in horror as the predictions of the storm's path and impact were broadcast. My anxiety spiked as the storm shifted and seemed to be aiming straight-on for Haiti. I cried thinking of our child, and the fear she may have been feeling. The confusion or anxiety she may have experienced, watching her parents or caretakers prep and plan for safety. My heart broke for a land desperately unprepared for this kind of impact. For the people, who've had enough of this to last a million lifetimes. I prayed fiercely for the storm to slow and move. I prayed for safety of the country and the people. For her safety. And we waited. I have never felt so helpless, knowing that from afar there was nothing tangible that I could do.
What's happened:
Not being in Haiti myself, I can only share what I have read and followed through sources in-country that I believe are reputable. The following is a recap of what I have gathered.
First, some quick context: Haiti is often described as the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. There are still many areas rebuilding from the devastating 2010 earthquake, and some that will never be the same. Much of the terrain has been deforested, largely due to energy needs, which can create instability in the land, and greatly increases the risk of mudslides following high rains. I say this to illustrate that the infrastructure and terrain across the country cannot handle much in its current state.
(To balance this, know that Haiti is also the world's first independent blac republic and was the second nation to earn independence in the Western hemisphere. This is a strong and brave country, capable of much.)
Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 (on a scale of 5 being the worst) moved over the country (which is about the size of Massachusetts, for scale) at an agonizingly slow pace, with winds of over 130 mph. There has been massive damage to some areas of the country--largely the South and the North. Reports are still being vetted, but there may be hundreds dead. And now that the storm has moved on, there is concern of flooding, catastrophic mudslides, and disease. The country has been fighting a cholera outbreak for years, likely imported by aid workers during the earthquake clean-up and spread through contaminated water. It is entirely possible that the standing water from the storm could exacerbate this.
I do believe that our prayers were heard. It appears that some parts of the countries experienced less devastation than expected. It appears that Port-au-Prince, the capital, is standing. We haven't yet heard any official reports from the Embassy, but the hope is that it is okay (and therefore, hopefully all of the adoption-related paperwork that so many families have poured their blood/sweat/tears into is okay).
We learned today that our orphanage Fondation Enfant Jesus (FEJ) reported that all children and staff are safe. However, toppled trees and severe flooding caused major damage to structures and the health clinic. Temporary shelter is in place, but the flooding needs to stop and rebuilding must occur to get them back to the safe space they were previously in. All this to say that there is still much that we do not know, and we will continue to wait for news on what this might mean for adoptions--for other families, and for us.
What you can do:
If you are looking for ways to help Haiti, please think about contributing directly to organizations that already exist in the country. Large NGO's and organizations newly forming after the Hurricane often have high overhead and/or little transparency into where funds actually go. Here is a reputable page outlining various agencies inside of Haiti. Also, here is a link to FEJ, our orphanage.
Don't buy a plane ticket and fly there to rebuild. This takes jobs away from the very capable hands of Haitian residents. (i.e., Why pay someone to do work, when this foreign volunteer will do it for free!)
Don't buy supplies and send them to Haiti. Instead, consider sending funds to allow supplies to be bought in-country, contributing to the local economy and small businesses.
A last note to leave you with:
Please, practice healthy skepticism when consuming media.
Pre-storm, some news sources were broadcasting images of Jamaica and calling it Haiti (and vice versa). Some news sources were showing historical footage of Haiti, such as from the 2010 earthquake. A newscaster at the Weather Channel stated that part of the reason that the country is so devoid of trees is because Haitians sometimes resort to eating them. (Uh, what? No.) Even an image that I saw after the storm of a child "stuck in a flooded alley" turned out to be a child playing in a ditch, unharmed.
I don't say all of this to take away from the truth: life and communities have vanished. People have lost their belongings, their homes, everything. So much loss.
This was a horrific catastrophe.
Media is important in keeping informed. However, it's important to be aware of when media is reporting flippantly (or too quickly, trying to be "first on the scene), or is relying on "click bait" tactics to draw in an audience. Try to seek out resources as close to the scene as possible, whenever possible. We've been fortunate to find good resources on social media, of missionaries and citizens who have been continued to share updates from their family, friends, and contacts living across the country.
