Haitian Builders Want To Help In Haiti, But Need Stockpiled US Army Bridges

Thousands of people in Haiti have been effected by Hurricanes Hanna and Ike. In Gonaive, the devastation is worst. The city that has not yet recovered from hurricane Fay of two years ago, has received a devastating blow. There is difficulty getting help to affected areas because bridges have been destroyed.

There are efforts to raise money to help in Haiti's recovery; particularly Congressman Kendrick Meek and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus are asking for $300 million in emergency assistanceto the island, along with emergency bridges to help the island piece together flooded areas, but the reality is that $300 million is not remotely possible at this time. Thousands are suffering and they need something that can alleviate the misery.

Now you have a chance to help in the recovery. A group of builders in the US and in Haiti are offering to fix the bridges into such devastated towns as Gonaive, but they need your help. They are asking that the US Army lends/donate 4 "Bailey Bridge" to Haiti so they can reconnect the many villages and Cities around the country. The bridges are stockpiled all over army bases across this country. If they get them, they can do the building themselves. Their team has international experience in road building, housing and disaster and they have the equipment in Haiti to do it.

"WE ARE OF THE MIND SET THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE AMERICANS TO DO IT FOR US; ALL WE NEED IS A LITTLE HELP."



You can help by calling different congressional members, especially from the armed services committee and referring them to Julio Bateau's circular letter to the chair of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan. Mr. Bateau is hoping to get a positive response from the Senator when he meets him at a fundraiser in Detroit tomorrow.

The membership of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee can be found here.

The addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of members of the United States Senate can be found here.
ARMED SERVICE COMMITTEE
FULL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

DEMOCRATS

Carl Levin (Michigan)
Chairman

Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts)
Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia)
Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut)
Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii)
Bill Nelson (Florida)
E. Benjamin Nelson (Nebraska)
Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (New York)
Mark L. Pryor (Arkansas)
Jim Webb (Virginia)
Claire McCaskill (Missouri)

REPUBLICANS

John McCain (Arizona)
Ranking Member

John W. Warner (Virginia)
James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma)
Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
Susan M. Collins (Maine)
Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Lindsey O. Graham (South Carolina)
Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina)
John Cornyn (Texas)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Mel Martinez (Florida)
Roger F. Wicker (Mississippi)

Source: The Haitian Blogger