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Andre Pascal of Forty Fort finally arrives in native land, finds out relatives are alive.
Maureen Pascal and her children were able to rest a little easier Monday night after learning her husband arrived safely in Haiti and determined his extended family there is alive.
Pascal, of Forty Fort, received a text message from her husband, Andre, notifying her that he arrived in his homeland safely after spending 12 hours taking two bus rides from the Dominican Republic’s capital into Port-au-Prince. Andre started his journey early Monday, flying out of JFK International Airport to Santo Domingo.
Andre, 50, a Haitian native, has lived in the United States for more than two decades. When he spoke to his wife Tuesday morning, he told her he could not comprehend the destruction, caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Jan. 12, because it was so horrific.
“He said people are sleeping on garbage. There are dead bodies just decomposing, and you can just smell it everywhere,” Maureen said.
The homes of his extended family – cousins – in Port-au-Prince were destroyed.
After the 12-hour bus rides, Andre made it to a friend’s home in Port-au-Prince, one of the few left standing. He slept in a vehicle outside overnight. Maureen was just happy her husband, a radiology technologist at Mercy Hospital in Scranton, wasn’t sleeping in the street.
“At least he had shelter,” she said.
Maureen said there was more good news. Andre had been able to phone his family in Leogane to learn that his brother, sister, nieces and nephews are alive. He started making his way to Leogane, about 20 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Tuesday to reunite with them.
The Pascals also learned there is a new member of the family. A wife of one of Andre’s nephews gave birth 15 days ago.
Andre plans to stay at least until Feb. 4, but his stay could be extended. After he ensures his family is safe he plans to work at St. Damien’s Hospital in Tabarre, north of the nation’s capital.
Millions of Americans are closely watching what is happening in the Caribbean country, and thousands of military personnel are still converging there a week after the quake to provide any of the vital support needed.
Wilkes-Barre City Administrator J.J. Murphy is slated to arrive in Port-au-Prince today with his eight-member crew mobilized for the Joint Task Force-Haiti.
Maj. Murphy, an Air Force reservist, will be working in search-and-rescue efforts. His team is responsible for coordinating helicopters, ground teams and other resources to rescue those who are trapped or endangered.
He said he doesn’t know what to expect, but that is not keeping him from wanting to go provide the best assistance he can.
“I am not nervous, I am proud to go. I am proud to go help. That is why I wear my country’s uniform.,” Murphy said Tuesday afternoon as he was preparing for deployment from Tyndall Air Force Base, near Panama City, Fla.
To help Haiti:
Donations to help the Haitian earthquake victims can be made through the following organizations:
American Red Cross
•Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to have a $10 donation added to your cell phone bill.
• Drop off or mail donations to the Wyoming Valley Chapter at 256 N. Sherman St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, or call 823-7161 to donate by credit card.
• Drop off or mail donations to the Hazleton Chapter at 165 Susquehanna Blvd., West Hazleton, PA 18202, or call 455-9517 to donate by credit card.
• Visit www.redcross.org to donate by credit card or through an Amazon account.
Giant and Martin’s
• Customers may drop off monetary donations at Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets. The chains will deliver the money to the Red Cross.
Wegmans
• Customers may donate funds through the checkout at all Wegmans through Saturday. The chain will deliver the money to the American Red Cross’ International Response Fund Haiti Relief.
Misericordia University
• Donation checks can be made out to Misericordia University and delivered or mailed to the Campus Ministry Office, 301 Lake St., Dallas, PA 18612. The money collected will be divided among a number of relief efforts.
Salvation Army
•Text the word “HAITI” to 52000 to have a $10 donation added to your cell phone bill.
• Donors can also give via www.salvationarmyusa.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, and by mail at: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 with designation “Haiti Earthquake.”
Organizations/businesses with collection canisters for Haiti relief efforts can e-mail information to [email protected], fax it to 829-5537 or mail it to 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.
GEM Therapeutics
• GEM Therapeutics locations, in collaboration with the American Red Cross, will act as drop-off points for donations. GEM Therapeutics, providers of physical and occupational therapy, has three locations locally: Mountain Top at 119 S. Main Rd., 474-6210, Wilkes-Barre at 504 Hazle Ave., 270-4366, and Dallas at 27 Main St., 674-2659. If you would like to make a donation, drop it off at one of the locations by Feb. 5.
Wilkes University
• A candlelight vigil to remember Haitians who died in the quake will be at 6 p.m. today in front of the Henry Student Center near the corner of South and South River streets.
• People are encouraged to donate medical supplies and toiletries or money to UNICEF by dropping off supplies or funds at the university’s Community Service Office or Interfaith Office (Room 203) in the Henry Student Center.
King’s College
• Under student government leadership students are staffing collection sites in the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center to gather donations during lunch and dinner to send to Haiti.
• Funds also will be raised during the King’s and Misericordia men’s and women’s basketball game tonight at King’s Scandlon Gym as part of the Haiti Awareness Night. Admission fees will be waived with all money being collected going to the Haiti Relief fund.