Catastrophe in Haiti Hits Arizona Hard

PHOENIX - As many as 500,000 could be dead in the massive earthquake that struck the third world country of Haiti. The disaster has hit Arizona residents hard -- because thousands of people living in the valley have family in Haiti.

Many Haitians living in the United States still don't know if their loved ones are ok, because communication on the island is extremely limited.

Valley Haitians gathered together at the First Community Haitian Ministry Church in east Mesa Wednesday night to pray for family and friends.

All they can do is watch the coverage and hope, says Jean Marie Charles. "You cannot go, you cannot get in touch with them… it's very hard."

A voicemail from the destruction zone

Jean Rodney got a voice message from his dad, left moments after the earthquake struck Haiti Tuesday afternoon.

"I can't find my wife… I can't find my son… I don't know what's going on I can't go anywhere I don't know what's happening in Haiti," Rodney translates his dad's voicemail. Moments later, the line went dead.

"That's something I never want to hear, because I've never heard my dad that way. I've never heard him scream because he's strong," said Rodney. Rodney's dad survived, but several of his family members are still missing, and his business and his home in Haiti are destroyed.

In Chandler, Rodney gathers with other Haitians, organizing efforts to provide relief -- calling it Haitian Disaster Relief of Arizona.

"That's basically what I try to do is to bring people together and let them know, yes we are far away but there's a lot we can do," says Mirlene Hans, who has family in Haiti. Despite many attempts at contact, she hasn't been able to get ahold of them, and she's worried for their safety.

"It breaks your heart, it really does. I've seen it happen in other countries. I've seen it happen on television but when it hits home, it really breaks your heart," she says.

Doctors on way to help out

Dr. Jordy Cox is a trauma surgeon at Maricopa Medical Center. He also volunteers for Doctors Without Borders. He will arrive in Miami Wednesday night, then take a chartered jet to Haiti.

"I don't know what I'm going to find when I get there. I know it's not going to be fun but looking forward to trying to help," said Dr. Cox. He's also worked in the Congo, while the country was at war.

"All I know for know is communications are down. We know that some of the Doctors Without Borders staff have been injured. The situation of the patients who were in the hospitals at the time is unknown."

Adoption agency with ties to Haiti

One of the buildings rocked by the quake was an orphanage, where close to 100 kids live. And one Arizona adoption agency helps families in the valley adopt children from that orphanage.

Jessica Neumann adopted 2-year-old Hannah from Miason Des Anges -- which means House of Angels. The building was rocked by the earthquake.

"My heart broke. My first thoughts were the children down there at the orphanage and other children who may have lost their parents in the earthquake," said Neumann.

The Haitian orphanage works directly with Building Arizona Families, a valley adoption group. The group's director says all 100 children there are safe, but their building was damaged.

"We're looking for anybody who wants to help fund the repairs to the orphanage. And hoping people will find it in themselves that this is 4th world country and this earthquake hit them hard," said Kelly Rourke.

Building Arizona Families has found homes for over 500 children.