Eighteen days into emergency operations following the massive earthquake that struck the island nation of Haiti, the Florida Department of Health reports that 526 persons have been received at Florida hospitals, 413 have been received in South Florida, 76 have been received in the Orlando area and 37 have been received in the Tampa area.
On Wednesday Florida’s Governor, Charlie Crist, concerned about the ongoing costs of treating evacuees, in a letter to Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, requested financial assistance from the federal government. Specifically, Crist asked for the activation of the National Disaster Medical System and a plan to support the ongoing medical and humanitarian needs of evacuees.
In view of the uncertainty regarding who pays, the New York Times is reporting that, the United States has called a halt to medical evacuations of critically injured Haitians, until the matter is resolved.
Meanwhile, Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) has provided services to 6,630 individuals arriving to the United States since January 13th.
According to Florida Division of Emergency Management, Volunteer Florida is currently coordinating and assisting 41 community and faith-based organizations that are on the ground or providing services in support of the survivors in Haiti. Over 1,300 volunteers from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities of Florida, Compassion Alliance, The Eagles Way Foundation, Florida Association of Food Banks, Florida Interfaith Networking In Disaster and Lutheran Services Florida have logged nearly 28,000 hours during entering the three week relief operation.
Ten Florida National Guard and 10 Agency for Workforce Innovation Creole translators are on scene at Sanford International Airport to aid repatriates. Ten Florida National Guardsmen are providing additional support services for incoming flights to the Orlando/Sanford International Airport from Haiti.
