Haiti earthquake - hell on earth

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Jesus Christ...

That is one wrecked port...how the devil are they going to get the containers off without working cranes? Are the relief crews bringing in some to help offload the aid? Or will the aid have to be repacked in easier to disembark units?

EDIT: Disregard some of that, I spotted the crane on the vessel, however the more cranes the better so my question still kind of applies.

Exactly. Crane on the boat and hand unload. Desperate times take desperate measures. My trailers are to be barged to the port. If there is a will, there is a way! I can guarantee you there is a will!

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Exactly. Crane on the boat and hand unload. Desperate times take desperate measures. My trailers are to be barged to the port. If there is a will, there is a way! I can guarantee you there is a will!

Hunger can be a good motivator. I wish them well and godspeed !

[Oberon]

Agreed, godspeed and good luck to them, and to you too AVG

[AVGWarhawk]

Totally screwed. The airport is shut! Currently my tasks for trailers to FL are on hold.

[MothBalls]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Totally screwed. The airport is shut! Currently my tasks for trailers to FL are on hold.

Why did they shut the airport? Bad timing.

Anyway, can't they unload in the DR and truck it over?

Why did they shut the airport? Bad timing.

Anyway, can't they unload in the DR and truck it over?

Unfortunately the obvious problem has come into play.
The docks are buggered because they had an earthquake, the roads are mainly impassable because they had an earthquake, if they were not impassable there was a shortage of vehicles even before they had an earthquake which is now even more acute, the airport is full because they had an earthquake and can't move the aid out of the airport and planes of aid are waiting unloaded on the apron which means the vital first response who should be getting to work are being diverted because they can't land anymore.
Plus of course damage to the airports tanks and planes having to circle a long time before landing means there are now lots of unloaded planes which cannot leave anyway as there is no fuel.

As for shipping stuff by road from the Republic, the bridges on the route have collapsed in the earthquake.

So I suppose the lesson is that despite the thoughts of....

I think they know by now to not wait on the UN but to just go ahead and do something.

.....
which is noble in its intent, the thing they should know by now is get stuff ready, make supplies available for shipping , have funds on standby........
but get an assesment team in first to see who what where when and how.
It might seem like a waste of valuable time, but it is a complete waste of time to have food and medicine piled up doing nothing but taking up space and slowing access.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by MothBalls

Why did they shut the airport? Bad timing.

Anyway, can't they unload in the DR and truck it over?

Fuel sir! Fuel! You can fly in but not out. Plus, the aircraft on the ground are using room for any other aircraft to land. The FAA shut it down. The ports are buggered. So, operations will need to done off a carrier. I understand the military will be working the ports in hope of getting some parts of it operational. Further, there are total airports on Haiti. Two are asphalt and the others are dirt. Even if the other airport is operational the question is, can trucks get from one airport to the other? The country as you know is very poor and paved roads, etc. just do not exist.

[AVGWarhawk]

We have to understand one thing, during the Clinton administration Haiti was a special project for Bill. There was one problem, we dropped aid, Haitian gladly accepted only to have a thug steal it down the street. Clintons aid was a wash as a result. This will happen again with this emergency relief.