Chile Forum

I big hand for admin (and others) who volunteer time and effort in such an amazing way. I can only stand on the side and see what you guys are doing since I am currently back home in Sweden for some weeks. Thankfully all my loved ones in Chile are ok. If there is anything I can do for anybody while in Sweden I am certainly available. I hope you track down and find EEUU to be safe soon.

Hello all,
I am glad to hear that so many have come through this ok. But I know that there is still much work to do.

So I see that there is a call for Blood Donation at various locations post on CNN Chile and 24Hs. And Jumbo at Alto Las Condes was calling for volunteers this morning to prepare supplies to go South.

I was just wondering if there was anything else that people could do? Is there call for other donations such as clothing, blankets, etc?

It would be good to know what else we might be able to do to help the situation...

Thanks everyone! Stay safe...

To the couple of people wondering if everyone is seeing the same news - yes we are, but 'without sticking your head under a blanket it is easier, more practical and in some cases vital to remain level headed and calm and try to find solutions to the problems everyone are facing. The reports of looting and tsunamis (from yesterday morning) are coming through and all is devastating, but no one can change it.

Admin and his team (or skeleton staff as it is at the moment) are doing an awesome job of staying calm, helping find people and helping people communicate about things going on on the ground. I am so far not personally affected by the earthquake (here in the north), though my husband is out of the country and as yet cannot return and there is some concern over the availability of fresh produce etc, but even I can appreciate the unbelievable job that Charles, Zandra and co are doing.

The number of times I read last night "I'm tired, need to go to sleep" (from admin) and then saw posts with info coming through, literally hours later, makes me grateful to the team at allchile, and I am sure that others who are directly affected feel the same.

Don't forget that CNN will continue to cover the worst parts (and there is plenty of it, I am not trying to sugar coat it), but you can't change it, all you can do is try to move forward with your eyes wide open.

Thanks again to the allchile team, if only everyone in a disaster zone in a foreign country had this kind of service.

Day three (I think). We are still on the internet. Last night was better. We where still getting phone calls from people search for friends and family at about 2 AM, and still having some luck at that time of the morning getting touch with people in Temuco.

First I want say thanks to everyone. Doing what we are doing is really more of one of those post disaster theorpay sort of things. I think my trauma and my wife's trauma is not the disaster directly, we came through in really good shape relative to so many in Chile. It is trauma of the loss. Every so often I stop and my mind starts wondering in to what this all means now and in the future, and I just want to breakdown and cry for Chile; I then force myself to stop thinking about it, and think there are more important things to do right now.

I just discovered I have another working internet connection at my office downtown. I am going to see what I can do about opening up that wireless for people in the area today, and perhaps adding another vonage phone line in to the country so people can talk with relatives.

We just got word that Santander bank in Temuco is working.

I will report back in a little while with more, as soon as I wake up a bit and get an idea of what to do today.

Help I need right now is to spread the word for people outside the country that want to do something: Please if you have a blog, a facebook page, anything on the internet link back to the missing persons thread and earthquake forum or this section of the forum and help us get the word out that we do have the ability in Temuco, and hopefully more today to reach inside the disaster zone and get in touch with people. People are running around web sites such as CNN and other sites posting stuff, but do not understand CNN has no contacts or resources here ( the news organizations are calling us hoping to find people to interview ). We need to let people know we to post on the forum, so we can look for people.

Admin- you are doing a wonderful job in such a hard situation. You are an angel of hope for many people searching for relatives. If you need anything please ask- I know Antofagasta is so far away but whatever I can do please ask.

admin wrote:Chile has come so far. Chile was there. It was just about over that last step to being recognized as a fully developed country. Perhaps, this is the step it had to take for the World to see Chile is different.

There is a huge loss right now, but perhaps this IS the step it needed to take.

People across the world are seeing images of chile cleaning up during after shocks, of a strong group of carabineros, armed forces and citizens joining together to come through this better than ever. Sure there are mistakes and setbacks, but people are working so hard to defeat the helplessness.

Not to mention that the biggest economic contributer (copper) has been largely unaffected (at least directly).

Chile will come through this as it does everything else, with strength, dignity, and pride, and the world will watch and finally see the real Chile.

EEUU is fine, I'm on the phone with him right now. His power is down now but he's in good shape and his building came through with little damage save the toilet moving off it's mount. Too much Cristal can also do this.... I think we should be told!

Jolly good, I half imagined EEUU was waiting it out in a bunker for the ultra paranoid. I hope he wasn't sitting on the toilet at the time!

That's awesome to hear about EEUU. What was the drive like around there MickieO? I was thinking of checking out Cartagena and San Antonio and taking some pictures for posterity's sake.

admin wrote:Help I need right now is to spread the word for people outside the country that want to do something: Please if you have a blog, a facebook page, anything on the internet link back to the missing persons thread and earthquake forum or this section of the forum and help us get the word out that we do have the ability in Temuco, and hopefully more today to reach inside the disaster zone and get in touch with people. People are running around web sites such as CNN and other sites posting stuff, but do not understand CNN has no contacts or resources here ( the news organizations are calling us hoping to find people to interview ). We need to let people know we to post on the forum, so we can look for people.

Those of us here in Chile can do that as well. I've reposted and linked information from this forum here http://www.refinedhedonist.com/2010/02/ ... cross.html and on my facebook. My friends and family are reposting everything over in Canada, the US and Europe so it's making the rounds. Maybe others can do the same, and get the word out. I believe the Red Cross here is now actively seeking monetary donations and alot of the other Red Crosses are sending Chile what they can, but as Charles said, every little bit helps!

MikieO wrote:EEUU is fine, I'm on the phone with him right now. His power is down now but he's in good shape and his building came through with little damage save the toilet moving off it's mount. Too much Cristal can also do this.... I think we should be told!

Good to know! I had pictured him trapped inside, unable to tote his gold away ....seriously i am relieved.

On the "bright" side of this, I read the plates became "unstuck' with this earthquake and the built up stress has been relieved.

Charles and AllChile team, thank you for all your efforts in helping people after this tragedy.
Please let us know what kind of help we can provide. We will be glad to do anything to help.
My travel to Villarrica has been postponed and I will stay here in Brazil until at least next weekend. If you have family in Brazil waiting for the flights to Chile and have difficulties in contact, please let me know I will try to contact them. People with LAN tickets will probably start flying home on the Wednesday but people with tickets with other companies like TAM will be scheduled to fly from March 8th and after.
If you need, I can build blogs or websites in my hosting to help maintain the information flowing while you recover.
Please take note of my personal data so if someone needs something you can reach me:

Marcelo and Desiree Plaza
fone in sao Paulo: +55 11 55650703
mobiles: +55 11 81705435 or +55 11 85873354
mcplaza at mcpdigital.com and host at http://www.mcpdigital.com

Good luck.