Haitian-Americans in New York tried frantically Wednesday to get through to their homeland and learn whether loved ones had survived the powerful earthquake that shook the Caribbean nation.
“When I called my dad on his cell phone, the call did not go through,” said Oneil Laurent, 30, who sobbed as he waited at a bus stop in Brooklyn. “I don’t know what I can do. It’s only me here. All my family is there.”
Laurent said that he finally got a call from one of his sisters in Port-Au-Prince, the capital, but that she, too, had been unable to reach their father.
The 7.0-magnitude quake Tuesday caused thousands of buildings to collapse in Port-au-Prince, trapping untold numbers.
Americans looking for Haitian relatives can call 1-888-407-4747 for information.
According to census estimates, there are about 232,000 people of Haitian origin in the New York City area, including northern New Jersey and Long Island. There are about 122,000 in the city alone.
At the Haitian Consulate in Manhattan, many of the more than dozen staff members sobbed while also trying to field calls from people offering to make a donation. Many were unable to reach their loved ones in Haiti.
“The situation is dire,” said Felix Augustine, the consulate counsel general who said he hadn’t slept all night. “I would say it is indescribable.”
“All communication lines are down,” said Yolane Milfort, the consulate’s community liaison. She said one of the employee’s mother was missing.
Her eyes welling up with tears, Milfort said she had been trying unsuccessfully since 6 p.m. Tuesday to contact her own daughter in Haiti.
Michael Fromer, whose company Millennium Energy Holding has been trying to build a refinery in the northern part of Haiti, said he came to the consulate Wednesday as a friend.
“They’re going to need heavy equipment because there is none down there to clear debris,” he said, adding that he was working with construction companies to arrange for some to be transported there.
In Brooklyn’s East Flatbush neighborhood, home to many Haitian immigrants, residents have been glued to their televisions seeking any morsels of information about the earthquake.
Herve Paris was at the Brooklyn offices of Radio Soleil, which serves the city’s Haitian community. The 45-year-old was trying to learn the fate of his parents, as well as nephews, nieces and other relatives.
“The first thing I tried to do was call; I tried like 15 different numbers. I can’t get in contact,” he said.
Paris said a friend in Brooklyn reached someone in Haiti who said another mutual friend had died, along with his two young children, in their home.
Paris said he was particularly concerned about his mother, who is in a wheelchair after a stroke.
“I have a lot of pressure; my mom is paralyzed, she’s unable to run, she’s unable to do anything,” he said. “I have to go to Haiti one way or the other. I have to find my loved ones; I’m really concerned. This is a catastrophe.”
Fernando Mateo, head of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, said his group and the Bodegueros Association of grocery owners would collect supplies such as food, medicine and clothing for earthquake victims.
The city’s 60,000 taxi drivers and 14,000 grocery store owners were being mobilized to donate and transport collected goods and supplies to a 40-yard container parked in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, Mateo said.
“When your neighbor’s in trouble, you go to help,” he said. “We need to help our neighbors as much as we can. We’re asking everyone to open up their hearts and their wallets.”