Here's advice for those concerned about Haiti earthquake disaster

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Although it’s thousands of miles away, Douglas County residents may be wondering what they can do in the wake of the massive earthquake in Haiti.

Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead after the magnitude-7 earthquake struck Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, said she’s been in contact with the U.S. State Department to make sure the U.S. government is doing everything possible to assist the Haitian people as well as American citizens who are in Haiti.

“Haiti has suffered a disaster of catastrophic proportions,” Klobuchar said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti, as the United States and the international community mobilize to come to their aid.

“The impact of this earthquake is also being felt in Minnesota,” added Klobuchar. “Our state has long been known for its compassion and humanitarian service to people in need, whether at home or abroad.”

Klobuchar said her office has received a number of calls from worried Minnesotans seeking assistance in contacting family members or friends and making sure they are safe.

In addition, several Minnesota families with pending adoptions in Haiti have contacted her. These families have been able to confirm that their children are safe, the senator said. She added she’s now working with the State Department and Citizenship and Immigration Services to expedite these adoptions so the families can bring their children home safely.

Klobuchar offered the following advice for Minnesotans who are concerned about family members or friends in Haiti:

1. Contact her Minnesota Senate Office at (612) 727-5220 or 1-888-224-9043. Staff is working with the State Department to locate and, if necessary, assist Minnesotans who are in Haiti.

2. Contact the State Department’s Haiti Crisis Task Force hotline at 1-888-407-4747 or ca-taskforce@state.gov. People should immediately contact the hotline to report the names of Americans missing in Haiti. People concerned about Haitian family members or friends should contact the Embassy of Haiti in the U.S. at (202) 332-4090 or embassy@haiti.org.

3. Minnesotans who are able to reach a family member or friend in Haiti should advise them to contact the U.S. Embassy there to report their status and whereabouts. Below are the U.S. Embassy phone numbers for those calling from inside Haiti: 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322 and 509-2229-8672.

4. Minnesotans can check the website for the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, which has continuously updated emergency contact information. The website address is http://haiti.usembassy.gov.

The Echo Press is searching for local angles to the Haiti earthquake disaster. If you know of a Douglas County connection to the story, please call the editor at (320) 763-3133 or send an e-mail to editor@echopress.com.

Tags: news, haiti, earthquake, disaster