EARTHQUAKE 2021
7.2 Magnitude Earthquake
Earthquake 2021 Email Updates:
October 20, 2021
Click here to read email update: We Are Building!
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October 13, 2021
Click here to read email update: Returning to School!
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October 6, 2021
Click here to read email update: Empowering Communities, Strengthening Families
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September 29, 2021
Click here to read email update: Investing in the Lives and Futures of Children
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September 22, 2021
Click here to read email update: Equipping Families to Rebuild Their Lives
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September 15, 2021
Click here to read email update: Building Stronger and More Resilient
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September 8, 2021
Click here to read email update: Reaching Those Most Vulnerable
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September 3, 2021
Click here to read email update: Your Help is Needed for Recovery
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August 31, 2021
Click here to read email update: Schools Have Extensive Damage
August 28, 2021
Click here to read email update: Children Need Safe Homes
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August 26, 2021
Click here to read email update: 130k+ Families Are Now Homeless
August 24, 2021
Click here to read email update: Responding to the Crisis in Haiti: The work has just begun!
August 21, 2021 10pm EDT
Update: Emergency Response Continues
One week ago, we began the day with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, and continued with a tropical storm causing flooding and mudslides, we’re ending with a renewed sense of hope for the future of our friends in Haiti. While the news of lost lives and destruction continues, we’re seeing our communities in Haiti come together to encourage and support each other as only neighbors can.
August 20, 2021 10pm EDT
Update: You are enabling us to respond
We are so grateful for your support of Overture International and ESPWA and the work we’re doing in Haiti to help our friends recover and rebuild from this devastating earthquake! Our teams are working each day to ensure the community’s basic needs are met and that there is a strategic plan for building a stronger, more resilient southern Haiti. We can only do this work with your prayers and generous financial support.
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August 19, 2021 10pm EDT
Update: Death toll continues to rise...now over 2,000
As we close out another day in Haiti, there remains a great deal of both sadness and hope. The death toll continues to rise (over 2,000), with many more injured and even more who have lost their homes and possessions. And sadly, many people remain buried under concrete. Please continue to pray for all those in the region who are suffering from the loss of their homes and loved ones. Right now, just surviving day to day is the biggest challenge. With your help, families can recover and rebuild their homes and their lives.
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August 18, 2021 6pm EDT
Update: Power in Collaboration
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First, we want to thank all of you who have given generously to help us equip our friends in Haiti to more quickly recover from the devastating earthquakes that have hit the region this past week. Your investments are making it possible for us to rapidly respond with shelter, food, water and resources for the thousands who have been stripped of literally everything by this disaster. We could not do what we do without you!
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August 17, 2021 10pm EDT
Update
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It's been just four days since the 7.2 magnitude earthquake first hit Haiti. And over the last 24 hours, we've seen torrential rains from Tropical Depression Grace causing flooding and mudslides throughout southern Haiti. While all of this devastation can be overwhelming for the people of Haiti, and even for you as donors, we're confident that through God's provision and your continued support of our efforts on the ground, our friends in Haiti will recover and build a stronger, more resilient community that will be better equipped to weather future disasters.
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August 16, 2021 5pm EDT
Update
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We want to keep you informed as the situation on the ground in Haiti continues to evolve. As you may have heard in news reports, the death toll continues to climb, and is currently at more than 1,200 people with thousands more injured and missing. So far, the Overture/ESPWA community has not reported any fatalities, but there have been numerous serious injuries. Please continue to pray for our families and staff as they begin the work of recovery, even in the face of tropical storm Grace, which is expected to hit southern Haiti late tonight (Monday).
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August 15, 2021 10pm EDT
Update
We’re humbled by and grateful for the response to enable Overture and ESPWA to equip our Haitian friends to begin to recover from the devastating earthquakes and aftershocks that have shaken the region for the last few days. We want to ensure you’re kept informed about the latest developments in this disaster, the work we’re doing and how you can invest in these efforts.
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August 14, 2021 9pm EDT
Update
As the day has progressed in Haiti, it’s obvious the destruction from today’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake has been devastating in communities we primarily serve in the southern region. While we don’t yet have a full assessment, our staff teams (even though they’ve been hit hard as well) are working to help those impacted by the earthquake.
August 14, 2021 10am EDT
Urgent from Haiti - Overture-served region seriously damaged by major earthquake
As you may have heard in recent news reports, on Saturday, Aug. 14, western Haiti was struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. Reports from Overture International and ESPWA staff indicate that this earthquake has caused deaths, significant damage to homes, medical facilities and other structures in the area in and around Petit Trou de Nippes and Les Cayes, Haiti, including the ESPWA, Camp Perrin, and Tiburon, priority areas served by Overture. This earthquake is reported to be at least, if not more, powerful as the devastating earthquake that hit the region in 2010.
July 2021 Hurricane Elsa
July 4, 2021 6pm EDT
Update from Southern Haiti: As the recovery from Elsa begins in southern Haiti, our Overture and Espwa team members continue to provide for our families in the region. Thankfully, our social workers have reported that all of the families we serve (including those that came to Espwa facilities) are well and accounted for. While the majority of crops were destroyed and there was considerable rain and wind, we’re pleased to report that there were no injuries and that no lives were lost in the Overture network. Praise God! Overture will arrange for and conduct food distributions to the communities where our families live as soon as possible.
July 4, 2021 10am EDT
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Tropical storm Elsa has moved on from southern Haiti. While the damage and impact are still being assessed, thanks to your past generosity, Overture and Espwa were able to receive 54 people and provide them with shelter, food and care. In fact, our team is taking the plantains fallen during the storm and cooking them for the families staying in the shelter locations.
As the sun comes out this morning and our families determine their next steps, please continue to pray for those in southern Haiti and those who remain in harm’s way as Elsa continues through the Caribbean and on towards the U.S. Thank you again for all your prayers and support.
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July 3, 2021 10pm EDT
Thank you for all of your prayers and support! We’re expecting the wind and rain from Elsa to continue through the night in southern Haiti. Our Espwa team on the ground is working through the storm to continue to receive families seeking shelter.
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July 3, 2021 4:17pm EDT
As the winds from Elsa begin to impact southern Haiti, our team on the ground is already locating families to help them more safely weather the storm. Please continue to be in prayer for all of those in the path of the storm. There are still many unknowns, but one thing is certain, that thanks to you, we’re more prepared than ever to provide food, shelter and care when and where needed in the region served by Overture International and ESPWA.
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ESPWA Campus July 3, 2021 417pm ET
July 2, 2021
As you are likely aware, Hurricane Elsa is a category one storm currently in the Caribbean and on a path to make landfall at or near southern Haiti. This region includes areas that Overture International and ESPWA serve. We want to let you know that we stand ready in Haiti to respond to whatever impact the storm has on the people and communities. Thanks to you, Overture and those we serve are prepared!
Our team is on the ground and is currently facilitating the following efforts to prepare for this potential disaster in southern Haiti:
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Our team on the ground is preparing ESPWA to provide safe shelter and nutrition to community members in crisis. Domes your support has enabled to be built, will provide relief shelter for families in crisis!
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We have food stationed in secure depots in the communities ready for distributing after the storm.
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Our social workers are contacting all of our families in the family preservation program so communities are alerted and better prepared.
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Our medical nurses and other key personnel are on standby at ESPWA to respond as soon as they are needed and able to enter the affected communities.
We plan to keep you informed about the progress of the storm, conditions on the ground in Haiti and any needs that may arise as a result of the storm. You can visit this page: www.overture.international/elsa to keep abreast of information related to the storm and our response. You can also visit the National Hurricane Center for the official forecast. We humbly ask for your prayers for those in Haiti and for our team.
Hurricanes are a reality in this region, but because of the generosity of supporters like you, we and the people of Haiti are better equipped to weather these storms. We also believe that through adversity, we’re made stronger. So we will lean into this challenge with you and the resilient and steadfast people of Haiti.
Please continue to pray for our families and team members on the ground. Your continued support allows us to be ready and able to respond to families in times of crisis! Check out our programs in each of the sustainable development areas and prayerfully consider a contribution to help continue this critical work.
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We value our relationship with you, so please always feel free to reach out to us with any questions!
