Dearest Haiti,

Dearest Haiti,

My Prayers are with everyone one associated with this horrible catastrophe.

[before & after of Haiti's Presidental Dome]

 A major earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, knocking down buildings and power lines and inflicting what its ambassador to the United States called a catastrophe for the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation.

The magnitude 7.0 quake -- the most powerful to hit Haiti in a century -- struck shortly before 5 p.m. and was centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It could be felt strongly in eastern Cuba, more than 200 miles away, witnesses said. -CNN.com

You can donate to these groups:

• Text Yele. -- Wyclef Jean is urging donors to text 'Yele' to 501501 and make a $5 contribution to the relief effort over cell phone.
• Save the Children. -- Donate at savethechildren.org
• UNICEF. -- Go online to unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call (800) 4UNICEF.
• Red Cross. -- Go online to redcross.org and click Donate, or call (800) REDCROSS.
• Direct Relief International. -- Donate online at directrelief.org.

To find information about friends and family in Haiti: The U.S. State Department set up a toll-free number to call for information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747. [source: nydailynews.com]