BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — All week, Joe Hurston of Air Mobile Ministries in Brevard County has been on a life-saving mission to provide clean drinking water to the people of Haiti.
After flying into Port Au Prince Monday, Hurston later continued on to earthquake-damaged Jeremie.
READ: ‘Heartbroken’ Florida town has ties to Haiti’s quake zone
“Commerce has stopped. The major floods that have been caused by Grace, and before that, Fred, have completely cut off the Grand Anse,” Hurston said. “You can’t get through by road. Water is contaminated everywhere. Food is in dire shortage...It’s the perfect storm and people are absolutely desperate.”
To date, with the help of Jeremie’s Mayor and others, Hurston has delivered eight water purifiers to Haiti, including two left at an area orphanage.
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“The orphanage where we donated two units, they have 300 orphans, and they have a major outreach. They’ve been buying bottled water, which costs them tens of thousands of dollars on water each year,” Hurston explains.
READ: Central Florida businesses team up to collect donations following Haiti earthquake
Hurston says he keeps expecting to see more relief workers arrive in Haiti, but so far, that hasn’t happened.
“Number one, people have a hard time getting in internationally,” Hurston said. “Number two, the U.S. State Department is saying do not come, and then when you get here, your chances of getting out of these isolated areas are minimal.”
READ: Haiti earthquake: Here’s how you can help
With his supplies nearly exhausted, Hurston says he plans to fly home soon to recharge.
“I’m beat. I just don’t have the energy that I did have. And toward the end of the day, I’m down to zero,” Hurston said. “I look forward to going home to sit on my porch. Meanwhile, we’ll be raising funds again to bring another load in.
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