None — It's estimated at least 50,000 Haitians live in the Orlando-area. Eyewitness News reporter Melonie Holt talked to many worried residents who still couldn't reach family in Haiti. One church in Orange County has a special service planned for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
Many families who belong to Orlando's Philadelphia Haitian Baptist Church are still waiting for word on the fate of their families in Haiti. Pastor Jean Bernadin was on the radio addressing Central Florida's grief-stricken Haitian community. The station operates from inside the church and, currently, Haiti's catastrophic earthquake is just about the only topic of discussion.
VIDEO REPORT: Haitian Churches Anxious For News
"I have my grandma, my uncle, and my cousins. Until now, we still try to get in contact with them, it's impossible," church member Emmanuel Laguerre said.
Emmanuel Laguerre isn't alone. Many of those calling the church have yet to hear from their loved ones. Things were already tough for the impoverished Caribbean nation before it was rocked by a 7.0 earthquake on Tuesday.
Evens Michel's family managed to get an email through.
"He told us they're okay, but the house is totally gone," Michel said.
At the Haitian Consulate in Orlando, the flag is at half staff. The office is under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which workers at the consulate believe is one of the buildings destroyed by the earthquake.
"This is a wake up call for all Haitians," Orlando resident William Jusme said.
Jusme closed his business early Wednesday to visit the consulate. He has a brother in Haiti.
"I hope that he's alive, but whatever he needs, he will get it from me. But there are other people who can't get it from nobody," he said.
The church hopes to send its own delegation to Haiti and it is accepting donations. National organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army are sending specialized teams to Haiti. Those two organizations are primarily looking for monetary donations.
WFTV
