Help Haiti Heal
Driven by Need, Led by Experience, Powered by Volunteers.

1. What is HelpHaitiHeal?
HelpHaitiHeal is a website designed for use by the general public to get information quickly so that it may be shared with those who need it most to save lives. It is a centralized clearinghouse of critical recovery aid information in the aftermath of the Magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The site restricts its focus to sharing information pertinent to only 3 distinct areas of need.

1.Survive – Treat Wounds
2.Sustain - Find Water, Food, Shelter
3.ReUnite - Find Loved Ones.

HelpHaitiHeal is a collaborative website collecting complex information and sharing it in a manner that makes it easy for the general public to find information about a predetermined list of recovery aid subjects. The site is manned by a global volunteer workforce and as such its risk for impact during any future disaster is reduced.

2. Who is the target audience for the website?
The primary audience for this website is the general public; the affected population both inside and outside the impacted geography, neighbors outside the impacted geography, aid agencies inside and outside the impacted geography, media outlets and communications providers for the affected population inside and outside the impacted geography, and donors of materials and supplies for the affected population.

3. What is the background to HelpHaitiHeal?
We are a virtual Non-Governmental Organization experienced & focused on communicating disaster recovery aid to the affected population during a catastrophic disaster. Providing public communications during a catastrophic disaster is particularly challenging and the demand for reliable information is as great a challenge as actually providing that much needed aid to the affected public. A catastrophic disaster is much different than other types of disasters. After most typical disasters, people and property are severely impacted but recovery is relatively fast. Aid agencies are onsite or in contact with impacted persons within a few days. In a catastrophic disaster, hundreds of thousands or millions of people are impacted. The geography impacted may be hundreds of miles in diameter. In such a case, it may be weeks until aid reaches those affected. The information you see here is easy to search, filter and find. Make no mistake, it was not as easy to compile and determine how to share. This site is the result of 11 years of research and disaster recovery deployment experience. HelpHaitiHeal is an approach based on a proven concept for communicating with the Public in times of great need. Below is the basis of its concept our experience and ongoing development.

Dec1999, Initial concept design and White Paper – Communications For Catastrophic Disaster
Sep2001, Revised to include assessments, analysis of 9/11
Sep2005, Initial deploymt Joint Online Access Network–Hurricane Katrina, Lawrenceville, GA Joint Resource Ctr
Sep2008, Subsequent deployment of concept by Texas Congressman Lampson – Hurricane Ike, Houston, TX
Jan2010, Virtual deployment via global Internet – HelpHaitiHeal – 7.0 Earthquake, Haiti

5. What is the role of the Categories or Clusters/Sectors in the website?
The JOAN concept assigns and trains volunteers in specific roles to mirror those clusters/sectors that are used by the United Nations OCHA when responding to disasters. This approach facilitates efficiency in partnering with governmental and aid agencies and ensuring content is constantly refreshed and communicated to the public in a timely manner. This approach also reduces misdirected, unnecessary and distracting requests from being directed at critical first responders and OCHA cluster teams whose primary goal is to respond to and provide aid during an event.

6. What is OCHA’s role?
OCHA’s role is to ensure that sufficient guidance material and support is provided to the clusters so they can manage their content effectively. The IASC endorsed ‘Operational Guidance on Responsibilities of Cluster/Sector Leads & OCHA in Information Management’ requires OCHA, in collaboration with the clusters, to provide a country-specific or disaster specific humanitarian web-site.

7. Who is in charge of the Haiti Recovery Effort?
Answer: You are.

8. How can I learn more about HelpHaitiHeal?
If you would like to volunteer your time and expertise, please apply online at HaitiVolunteer.org. If you are a Media outlet or potential partner and would like more information, or are an aid provider and would like to be added or removed from our website, please send an email to HelpHaitiHeal@yahoo.com