Local business owner John Moore, along with his wife Donna, recently flew his private plane to Haiti full of relief supplies. This effort was in combination with the Linneus Historical Society, which provided a number of medical supplies for Moore’s journey. After his safe arrival back home, Moore commented on his journey to help people in this disaster-struck island.
Moore decided to take this trip after a discussion of the need for supplies on a pilot’s newsgroup online. “Last week a fellow pilot published an appeal to all pilots in the group to go to Haiti and help the relief effort,” said Moore. “He mentioned the over-burdened service in the outlying areas. Many of the earthquake victims from Port-au-Prince were returning to family in the rural areas to escape the conditions in the city.”
Moore realized that while there is plenty of help heading to Haiti, it may be going to the wrong places. “Unfortunately, most of the aid is being delivered to Port-au-Prince,” Moore noted. “Only smaller aircraft can land at the outlying airstrips, and the satellite hospitals being set up there lacked many basic supplies and medicines.”
With the decision made, Moore set about the planning of his flight, as well as ensuring his safety upon arrival. “I had been considering making the trip for about a week, but had serious concerns about security issues at the rural airports,” Moore related. “I spent most of my time getting in contact with someone who could assure me that I would be safe. Last Wednesday, around noon, I called my wife Donna, and we made up our minds to go.”
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