It's gray in Bellingham, WA on this Thursday, January 14, 2010; and we're not just referring to the weather.  Residents of Bellingham and people all over the world are concerned and grieved by the devastation and ruin in Haiti caused by an earthquake on Tuesday at a magnitude of 7.

The words of U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman, Elisabeth Byrs, are, "It's chaos." - "It's a logistical nightmare."

Many countries have delivered and promised aid. Efforts at relief hampered because the only way to reach Haiti is by sea or air - and Haiti's port has been severely damaged. The airport is open, but damaged, too, and trying very hard to handle the incoming aid flights. The US deployed the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to Haiti; and the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan has been ordered to sail as soon as possible with a 2,000 member Marine unit. China dispatched a chartered plane carrying 10 tons of tents, food, medical equipment and sniffer dogs plus a 60-member earthquake relief team who worked in China's own 2008 earthquake that killed some 90,000.

In their efforts to rescue and save people, aid workers need heavy machinery to lift tons of rubble . Haiti has virtually none of those machines. Rescuers are trying to get some into Haiti from the Dominican Republic, but the road from there to Port-au-Prince is narrow and easily clogged.

The Red Cross estimated that some 3 million people in Haiti will require aid, ranging from shelter to food and clean water. This estimate is based on previous disasters that appear to be of the same size and magnitude.

Many people are looking for ways to help, but the news last night cautioned people to make sure or verify that any donations for relief go to a legitimate agency.

 *Information gathered from The Bellingham Herald, Jan 13, 2010