Central Florida Agencies, Volunteers Respond to Haitian Disaster

Central Florida Agencies, Volunteers Respond to Haitian Disaster, By Geof Longstaff

Within hours of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, a small army of volunteers and local, state and federal agencies swung into action right here in Central Florida. Their efforts deserve praise.

Knowing that thousands of U.S. citizens, foreign nationals and Haitians would seek refuge from the devastation, The Department of Homeland Security chose Orlando Sanford International Airport as one of the primary receiver airports to coordinate their arrival in the U.S., local accommodations, and transfer to other travel centers such as Orlando International Airport.

Orlando Sanford International Airport President Larry Dale immediately began contacting more than 15 local, state and federal agencies for support and organized volunteers to assist them. Less than 24 hours later, when the first planes began arriving, Central Florida was prepared.National security was a principal concern of federal officials, so the reception effort required a substantial security contingent. The earthquake’s devastation included Haitian jails and prisons, and we were alerted that some of the thousands of escaped prisoners might make their way onto refugee transports.

Emergency responders here on the ground in Central Florida ranged from the Florida Department of Child and Family Services to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration and officials from customs, immigration and security agencies as well as local law enforcement and fire/EMS departments, churches, hospitals and volunteers.

As the Orlando Sentinel has reported, coordination of the arrivals has been a huge task. As of Wednesday morning, 92 emergency flights have delivered more than 7,600 evacuees to our reception center, including 5,600 U.S. citizens and 2,000 foreign nationals,
Altogether, these flights delivered 63 earthquake victims who were classified as medical transports.

All of us continue to pray for the victims of this disaster, and Americans have been generous with their private donations and public assistance in the relief effort.

Here in Central Florida, more than 300 agency workers and volunteers can take pride in their own relief effort, which is ongoing.

(Ed. Note: Geof Longstaff is Chairman of the Sanford Airport Authority, which operates Orlando Sanford International Airport)