Jaunted - Tag: Earthquakes

Who's Helping Out in Chile and How You Can Contribute to Earthquake Relief

cmb — 2010-03-01T12:39:59-05:00

Though Chile may have been somewhat prepared for the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit off the coast on Saturday, they are still in need of assistance with more than 700 dead and dozens of bridges and buildings collapsed. Here's a look at some organizations that have already gone into action and how you can help out:

· The American Red Cross is pledging $50,000 from its International Response Fund for relief operations. You can donate to the Red Cross online or by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW.

· Habitat for Humanity Chile is already working on developing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the earthquake. To help, you can donate online or register to become a volunteer for Habitiat for Humanity in the U.S. They frequently send teams around the world to help build housing and shelter for those in need.

More! After the jump...

Port-au-Prince: American Airlines Resumes Regular Flights to Haiti, But Who's Going?

JetSetCD — 2010-02-22T10:40:21-05:00

January 12. That was the day that Haiti suffered the devastating 7.0 earthquake and the day that American Airlines ceased their commercial flights to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti's capital, on account of the damage to the airport and the country in general. But now, over a month later, the airline is the first to resume their flights, after resuming abbreviated service last Friday.

Actually, American never stopped flying between the US and Haiti during the last month plus; instead of carrying paying passengers however, the flights continued packed with supplies and air workers.

So how much does it cost to fly there this week?

Sean Penn Travels with John Edwards to Deliver Relief in Haiti

Jennifer Kester — 2010-01-25T09:00:06-05:00

While big-name singers like Alicia Keys and Madonna used their pipes to raise more than $58 million in the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon on Friday, actor-activist Sean Penn was on the ground of the disaster-torn country to lend a hand.

The star delivered medical supplies and transport doctors to those whose lives were devastated by the January 12 earthquake as part of his charity, the Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization. In Port-au-Prince and around the capital, Penn gave out water filters, went to a clinic, visited out a food-distribution site, and checked out the efforts of soldiers from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division.

Damaged Haiti Airport Upgrades from Folding Table to Portable Control Tower

JetSetCD — 2010-01-22T10:35:04-05:00

It's been over a week now since the devastating 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti and finally, relief supplies and international help is pouring in like thick lava. We told you before about the state of the Port-Au-Prince Airport, which was basically a man with a radio somewhere on the ground, assisting what small planes and helicopters he could with their limited landings. But today, news arrives that the FAA are lending a much-needed helping hand.

WIth up to 200 aircraft now landing at the limping airport, the FAA has kindly dispatched one of their portable air traffic control towers, a 44ft high, 12ft wide and 8ft deep structure that runs on diesel fuel. Special technicians are heading down along with it, so that it can be up and ready to direct in more assistance within the next 48 hours. Before the tower goes up however, we will note that conditions have improved since earlier in the week, when there was just the one guy with a radio—it's now a few people at a folding table outside.

[Photo: Facebook]

Relief From the Sky: What the Airlines are Doing to Help Haiti

cmb — 2010-01-20T14:55:03-05:00

As we reported last week, Spirit Airlines was giving away enough loyalty miles for a free flight to anyone who donates $5 to Haiti by Jan. 17. But, Spirit isn't the only airline getting involved in the relief efforts. Here's a look at a few other airlines and what they're doing to help:

· American Airlines: American is giving customers a chance to earn 250 bonus miles when they donate at least $50, or 500 bonus miles for a donation of $100 or more to the American Red Cross through Feb. 28, 2010. The airline, in conjunction with American Eagle, is also sending three flights to Haiti filled with 30,000 pounds of relief supplies, food and water.

· Continental Airlines: Continental has a program for OnePass members in which they can donate their miles to relief groups, including the Red Cross.

More airlines, after the jump

Travel Tweet of the Week: Haiti Help From the US State Department

JetSetCD — 2010-01-19T16:55:02-05:00

We love Tuesdays. Why, you ask? Because the day brings many travel tips and quips as "Travel Tuesday" on Twitter, and we're going to share our favorite with you. Got an avid travel twitterer we should follow? Let us know.

As the tragedy and confusion continue that followed the massive earthquake in Haiti, people around the world are doing something very novel: they're text-messaging their donations to the Red Cross. Other charities are accepting text message donations as well, and it's been so successful a program that the Red Cross claims to have raised over $3 million already. Truly this is the future.

Even the US State Department is now getting in on the texting act, but not in terms of accepting money; they're using text messaging to get supplies where they need to go. According to their official Twitter stream @dipnote, if you can tell your relatives or friends in Haiti to use their Digicel phones to text their needs to "4636," the information will be routed to aid organizations and emergency responders on the ground for free. Here's the info:

Donate $5 To Haiti Relief and Spirit Airlines Will Give You a Free Flight

JetSetCD — 2010-01-14T11:30:00-05:00

All day today and yesterday, ways to do your part to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti have been publicized on Twitter, Facebook, and on the news. Even celebrities are throwing their weight behind some of the text-to-donate schemes, but how can you be sure it's all legit?

Unless you really do the research, it's all a crapshoot with those texting charities and money boxes at gas stations, so we're throwing our weight behind the charity efforts of an airline, of course. Specifically Spirit Airlines, who will give you enough loyalty miles for a free flight if you donate only $5 to Haiti by January 17.

On their website, you can login or sign up for the Spirit Airlines frequent flyer program (Free Spririt) for free, and then choose who you'd like to donate to: The Red Cross, UNICEF, or Wyclef Jean's charity Y�le Haiti. After completing the donation form and sending at least $5 to the charities, Spirit will credit your account with 5,000 miles if you're among the first 200,000 to do so, which is enough for a roundtrip flight if you have the Spirit Mastercard, or half of a one-way flight if you don't. Granted, it'll take 6-8 weeks for the miles to drop into the account, but it's for a good cause. Go here to participate and donate.

Related Stories:
· HaitiRelief [Spirit Airlines]
· A Man with a Radio is all that's left of the airport in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti [Jaunted]
· Spirit Airlines News [Jaunted]