Earthquakes, Gtmo and Haiti

Hello All.  Boy has it been busy here, I thought I would fill you in.
We felt an after shock or our own earth quake about the same time that Haiti got hit. We have had a lot of earthquakes here in the last few months, nothing big just slight tremors but the seismic activity has definitely increased according to our environmentalist. The kids and I didn't feel it at all, we were driving, but almost everyone I have talked to felt it, as did Alan. We were on tsunami watch for the 12 hours right after the quake, obviously nothing came of that.


Alan was called into the hospital the yesterday morning around 5am, we had inbound wounded and all essential hospital staff has to be on premises...Alan being the only pharmacist on island, in he went. On top of being the pharmacist he was the Command Duty Officer for the day, essentially he was the man in charge of reporting all the goings on to the Commanding Officer (CO) and he was the gofer. I saw him this morning and he seemed to being doing good regardless of his lack of sleep. He is needed at the hospital until all the surgeries are finished ( and they flew in an extra surgeon last night) and no wounded are immediately inbound. Being the ONLY pharmacist on island means he has to be at the hospital to make all the drugs needed for the surgeries and then he has to stay until the surgeries are complete in case they need anything else. Same with the incoming wounded. At any rate according to Alan as of this morning:

We have had at least 8 wounded helo-ed in, and four have had to be evacuated to the US. All of our wounded that have come here are from the UN or Embassies...We are supposed to be getting at least 8 more wounded sometime today.
Since we are such a small hospital, think rural country size here, I think we only have something like 12 beds if that...anyway, since we are so small and we are not a trauma center by any means most of the wounded are going to other places. We are ready and able to support refugees but that is still up in the air. 10 years ago when Haiti was in the middle of their civil war Gtmo was turned into a tent city. We had thousands here apparently. And if that needs to happen again, all the dependents ( the kids and I ) will be evacuated. However, as of right now, that isn't in the works. I think the US and UN are still just trying to get there to help.

As for any of our personnel being deployed to Haiti, that isn't what this base does. We do not have helicopters, airplanes or ships of any kind. We are simply a functionary base. All the troops and relief will come from Norfolk and/or other bases in VA. The Norfolk base in VA is the largest Naval base in the world and they will do all the deploying. There is a naval carrier on its way, and an LHD which is smaller than a carrier, but is equipped with a hospital area ( this is the same type ship Alan was on last year) and either the Comfort or the Mercy will be headed there. So, here on Gtmo we are just going to be helping here, not out there.

As for the wives here, we have been busy. We raided the thrift store I manage and packed 20 trash bags full of clothes for people there. And I know the chapel is getting together a bunch of food. Haiti has had a time of it...I have been praying for them for years. I am sure God has a plan for that little island, just wish it wasn't so devastating....

I will keep you posted as things happen here. I send you all our love, keep sending your prayers...