Haiti Donations

[Lanny Dean]

Stormtrack member Dennis Sherrod from alert1weather: http://www.alert1weather.org/ is taking donations for the MAJOR DISASTER caused by the Earthquake that happened in Haiti.
As we all know, Haiti was struck with a 7.0 Earthquake just before 5pm on Tuesday. The Earthquake happened near Port-au-Prince and as we have all seen on the news and such, there is MAJOR AND WIDESPREAD DAMAGE EVERYWHERE around the city. As of now, it is feared that well over 100,000 people are dead. and who knows how many injured.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and they do not have the resources to deal with this disaster.

Although outside of Dennis's and alert1weather's normal area of operations, Dennis and company will be trying to provide relief to help with this horrible disaster.
At this time much of their efforts will be directed to a childrens mission in Port-au-Prince where they have lost all of their building and all of the children are literally on the streets. Many of these kids are very young and are disabled or handicapped. They are in great need of care and medical attention.

Many of you who know me know that I can be a cold hearted SOB at times, but at times like this I think we all need to pull together and help. Therefore; We, at Extreme Chase Tours, have donated and I am asking everyone that might be able to help please do so as well.

You can donate via Paypal directly on the alert1weather website here: http://www.alert1weather.org/
Also, although Dennis mayget mad at me for doing this, it should be noted that he is currently in the process of getting ready to go down to Haiti personally. The cost for this is coming out of his own pockets. Let's try to pull together to see if we can get some more money for him so that it will not cost him so much out of his own pockets.

http://www.alert1weather.org/




PLEASE MAKE A DONATION NOW TO HELP.
100% OF ALL DONATIONS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE HAITI RELIEF.

 

[MatthewCarman]

Having met Dennis Sherrod in person I can say he is a really nice caring person and I am happy to see he is raising donations. I agree with Lanny we all need to come together and help out these people who need our help right now. We get to go home to a warm shower and bed and roof over our heads but alot of these people have nothing to go home to and are probably starving. While we eat filling meals alot of people in this world are eating meager meals just to survive. I feel so sorry for these people. I will be donating money as soon as my federal aid money comes in.

Dennis and Lanny God bless you both for donating.

 

[Lanny Dean]

Matthew, thanks for posting and just know that when you do donate that all of your donations will go to those in need 100%.

http://www.alert1weather.org/

 

[Dennis Sherrod]

First off, sorry I have taken awhile to get here for this.
Lanny, THANK YOU. I did not know you were posting this.
I can't add much more to what Lanny posted, except to re-emphasize that the Angels Mission is completely destroyed. All of the main buildings were destoyed. Fortunately a couple of the outlying building kind of survived. But as of last night, they still have all of the disabled, handicapped, and children with deformities living literally on the streets with no medical care what-so-ever.
They need every bit of help they can get, like everyone else there needs.
I am trying to find a way to get into the area and to get to the children with at least some medical relief and supplies.
There are currently over 2000 organizations raising funds worldwide. Even this is not enough to make a long term effort to help.
The relief supplies and money donated so far, amounts to an estimated 14 days worth of food and water for 1 million people. Yet, you think there are easily 2 - 4 million needing help, the amount of relief may only be good for 4-7days. More relief will come in, but this disaster is going to take a very long time to try and overcome.
Now, for the one skeptic and trouble maker, here and on Facebook, that has posted that I am trying to finance my chasing fun, and that I will not give all the money to any charity, I will only reply with a few kind words.
We are a legitimate, Federally regulated, and documented Non-Profit organization. Look at our sponsors. I doubt they would be sponsoring us if we did not operate within the Federal guidlines and laws.
You will Not stop our efforts.
And, as hopefully a final word on this, I personally pledge to donate $1.00 of my own money to match every $2.00 donated through our organization, up to $3000.00 out of my own funds to help. When we collect $6000.00 then I will donate another $3000.00 of my own money to match it.
I know times are very hard for everyone, but if we could even reach out to 5000 people and they gave only $1.00 each, we would have $5000.00. Every single dollar counts in a country that has nothing at all.
Please give whatever you can give. You will make a difference.
Thank you.

 

[Jeff Smith]

Mods...how about a sticky to this? This is a great way for storm chasers to help out in Haiti and 100% of your money goes straight to the victims.

 

[Laura Duchesne]

Thanks for setting this up, Dennis. I made my contribution.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

Out of curiosity, how is this money being distributed? What is it going towards, specifically? There are myriad well-entrenched and well-audited aid organizations out there who have boots on the ground ATTM -- what makes the Dennis Sherrod Haiti fund unique or more desirable?

 

[Chad Berryhill]

Out of curiosity, how is this money being distributed? What is it going towards, specifically? There are myriad well-entrenched and well-audited aid organizations out there who have boots on the ground ATTM -- what makes the Dennis Sherrod Haiti fund unique or more desirable?

Because Dennis is a fellow chaser Haven't you stopped to think that he is reaching out to the chasing community ? We are another branch of good folk that reach out and help others, mostly weather related. But there are times we need to help beyond weather related events.

Dennis has provided a way to help through his organization. An organization built by chasers. Obviously the skeptics ( yes you Ryan and others) have not looked at the website http://www.alert1weather.org/ Why don't you and the others go look first, or contact Dennis personally before you go on a public forum questioning his intentions !

Does it matter if Dennis had boots on the ground ATTM ? I personally, would wait just as the media cleared out, Because you know once it's not seen on the nightly news, it becomes out-of-sight out-of mind. People forget and move on.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

Because Dennis is a fellow chaser Haven't you stopped to think that he is reaching out to the chasing community ? We are another branch of good folk that reach out and help others, mostly weather related. But there are times we need to help beyond weather related events.

Dennis has provided a way to help through his organization. An organization built by chasers. Obviously the skeptics ( yes you Ryan and others) have not looked at the website http://www.alert1weather.org/ Why don't you and the others go look first, or contact Dennis personally before you go on a public forum questioning his intentions !

Does it matter if Dennis had boots on the ground ATTM ? I personally, would wait just as the media cleared out, Because you know once it's not seen on the nightly news, it becomes out-of-sight out-of mind. People forget and move on.

Why would anyone be offended by asking for details? If you ask a community for money, detailed information about how that money is to be spent is somewhat compulsory. Considering the recent history of donation issues on Stormtrack, I would think this doubly so.

Of course it matters if he has boots on the ground or is funneling the money to organizations that have boots on the ground. When your house is on fire, do you call the existing fire department or do you call someone up and ask them to train up a bunch of firemen, buy a bunch of firefighting equipment, and show up when they have a fully functional engine team?

I know you don't speak for Dennis and that Dennis will likely not approach this question in the way that you have, but you do leave me a bit puzzled.

 

[Chad Berryhill]

Why would anyone be offended by asking for details? If you ask a community for money, detailed information about how that money is to be spent is somewhat compulsory. Considering the recent history of donation issues on Stormtrack, I would think this doubly so.

Of course it matters if he has boots on the ground or is funneling the money to organizations that have boots on the ground. When your house is on fire, do you call the existing fire department or do you call someone up and ask them to train up a bunch of firemen, buy a bunch of firefighting equipment, and show up when they have a fully functional engine team?

I know you don't speak for Dennis and that Dennis will likely not approach this question in the way that you have, but you do leave me a bit puzzled.

I understand your concern. But fighting a fire is totally different. Dennis is trying to get money together and go help, not become a first responder or set up a first responder team. If this was the case, Dennis would be there already.

 

[Jeff Smith]

Of course it matters if he has boots on the ground or is funneling the money to organizations that have boots on the ground. When your house is on fire, do you call the existing fire department or do you call someone up and ask them to train up a bunch of firemen, buy a bunch of firefighting equipment, and show up when they have a fully functional engine team?

If your fire department is overwhelmed and cannot put out the fire, help is needed.

Dennis is focusing his efforts on helping a Mission in Haiti, Angel Missions Haiti.

If you go to Dennis' website, Alert1weather.org, you will find all this information plus more. Dennis is merely trying to facilitate help for people that are helpless right now. I am sure if you wanted to donate to the Mission directly, or any other means such as Red Cross Dennis would be thrilled. It's not a competition--we're all in the same boat.

I have been on scene of many tornado-ravaged areas with Mission of Compassion and even on a small scale, the Red Cross cannot be in all places at all times. It is hard to fathom the devastation in Haiti. The pictures I am sure cannot do justice to the suffering of these folks.

As far as nasty rumors concerning Dennis and his intentions, I will personally vouch for Dennis and his heart towards helping people. Dennis is the real deal period.

 

[MatthewCarman]

I spent an entire day with Dennis Sherrod and I can say he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. I would trust Dennis with my donations and I plan on donating soon. Donating to the American Red Cross or other organizations is just as good. Just as long as the money goes in some way with helping the people of Haiti. I also don't see anything wrong with asking questions if you are unsure of something.

I can't believe how some people at another weather site think it is stupid of people to donate to Haiti.These people in Haiti need all of the help they can get. They are suffering more than we can imagine and every donations wether it is 1$ or 100$ helps these people. We need to let these people know we care and want to help out even if we can't fully understand what they are going through. Any donations through any organization works. If you have some money you don't need and want to donate it the people of Haiti would apreciate it right now. If you can't donate money please say a prayer for the people of Haiti.

God Bless everyone who have and will donate to the people of Haiti.

 

[MatthewCarman]

I would like to add while most of us eat filling meals every night many people in Haiti are literally starving to death right now. Rioting and looting is occuring as people are trying to find food and survive. The death toll may be 2000000 people dead.

If you can donate in some way please do so. I know Dennis Sherrod would be ok with members choosing to donate via the Red Cross or another organization. The important thing is we help these people in need of help.

 

[Dennis Sherrod]

Thank you to those helping.
Ryan or anyone else wanting information, it is on our website, along with the link to our Facebook page where all the current updates are.
So far, we have sent requests for entrapment, rescue, injuries of all kinds, needs of food and water on at least 863 people. Some of the requests have come from mountain villages outside of PAP. We are in direct contact with Southern Command both in Miami and in Haiti, as well as now, the Israeli Defense Force Field Hospital and Rescue.
Just a short while ago, the first girl was taken out of the rubble at the university due to a text message that was forwarded to us. We then forwarded it directly to the ground rescue troops in Haiti. Rescue group also believes there may be more alive in the ruins. CNN is covering the story.
If someone wants to donate to us for the Angel Missions Haiti and the other childrens groups there, that is great. It will be greatly appreciated by many. If you want to donate directly to them , please do. Donate to anyone you want as long as they are a legitimate source.
I feel our organization is pretty good. We have zero overhead. Every single person is volunteer. I pay all operating expenses out of my own pocket. 100%goes directly to the ones that need it.
Thanks,
Dennis

 

[Chris Wilburn]

Thanks for the post Lanny and thanks to Dennis Sherrod for setting it up.