Help Chile

[sdf1macross]

To my DCTP friends and staff:

I felt I needed to bring this up, I was born in Chile, and even though I have lived in the U.S most of my life I still feel very attached to my native country, I am actually in Chile right now, my last visit was over 10 years ago, and I happend to have the time and money to come and see some family members I hadn't seen for a very long time. Everything was great it was like time hadn't passed, all was good until the morning of the 27th, I was flying back from Santiago to L.A, my flight was scheduled at 3:59am, I was seated on my seat inside of the airplane, when the captain started his normal speech about how long we were going to be in the air and things like that, please fasten your seatbelts and that the flight was going to start soon, right after he said that the airplane started moving, I thought we were leaving a little early since it was only 3:45am, but didn't think any much of it, suddenly the flight attendant's faces starting looking pale and they started screaming, for a moment I thought we had taken off and that we were falling, it only took an extra two seconds to realize that it was an earthquake, a big one, later on I would find out it was the 5th biggest in the history of the world, the plane was nothing but a piece of jello, moving like if someone was shaking it with all his strength. After about two minutes it stopped, they made us get off the plane, but not into the airport, but to the runway, the airport was destroyed, at least all of the inside was, and a lot of the outside.
We had to be careful in case there was a leak somewhere since the plane had been damaged, it was very scary, everybody had cell phones and were trying to reach their family members, but all services were down, not too long after a big explosion came from one of the planes  and started burning, it was terrifying as we all looked up to a big full moon in the dark sky.
They had to transfer us to the parking lot as we waited to see if we could go back to our destinations, but deep down we all knew that wasn't going to happen, after over 4 hours of waiting they decided that we couldn't stay there any longer specially the children so we had to walk a few miles to get out of the airport because the roads were closed or blocked, once the day light appeared, I could see the magnitude of the earthquake, it felt like a war had just happened, no lights, no water, no public transportaion, a tsunami destroyed a few cities to the south of Santiago and most people had die.
It has been four days since that moment but it would take a lot of years to fix what has happened here, my experience is nothing compare to the ones that lost family members or were injured, nothing to the ones that lost their homes or have no food, nothing to the ones that saw their buildings fall to the ground, nothing to the ones that saw all their dreams shattered.
Right now this country needs any help that can get from anybody, I am personally blessed to be alive and well, but it makes you understand that our lives are very small compare to the power of nature.
I'm not sure where or how you can help, but I am sure that if you look up online the ways to do it from wherever you are you will find a way.
Please keep Chile in your prayers tonight and for a long time, beacuse this country needs it.

Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide

Sdf1macross

[CoolKid3]

I got that brotha! I'll definitely gonna include your country in my prayers...

[c-square]

First Haiti, now Chile.  I'm sorry you had to be part of something so devastating, though I am glad to hear you have come thorough unscathed.  It is so lucky that you were on that plane, and not in the terminal when it hit.  I really hope your family and friends are all safe.  I'll keep Chile and its people in my prayers, and try to find a way to help.  Take care, sdf1macross.

[bluekaitou1412]

Oh... It's sad that these things happens...

[Abs.]

sdf1macross - I'm glad you (and your family, it seems) made it through the earthquake and subsequent tsunami alive.

[Conia]

I've got some acquitances in Chile, since I'm Argentinian, and everyday I keep hearing about Chile. Thank God you and the people in the airplane are ok. I'll be praying for our country cousins

[bluekaitou1412]

We had a 6.1 earthquake yesterday, good thing no-one was hurt, and I'm glad it was not that devastating, although some houses got destroyed...

[CoolKid3]

We had a 6.1 earthquake yesterday, good thing no-one was hurt, and I'm glad it was not that devastating, although some houses got destroyed...

What area was that again? I heard the news but I failed to catch the specific area(s)...

[bluekaitou1412]

We had a 6.1 earthquake yesterday, good thing no-one was hurt, and I'm glad it was not that devastating, although some houses got destroyed...

What area was that again? I heard the news but I failed to catch the specific area(s)...

I already forgot...

[sdf1macross]

I found a good link to donate

http://www.google.com/relief/chileearthquake/

[Abs.]

Here are some more links. 
Seems mostly US - http://mashable.com/2010/02/27/chile-relief/
Brits - http://www.redcross.org.uk/donatesection.asp?id=77029

Those of other countries may feel free to post links to donate in your currency/to a reputable charity based in your country.

Personally donated the equivalent of ~$50.00 USD

[sdf1macross]

Here are some more links. 
Seems mostly US - http://mashable.com/2010/02/27/chile-relief/
Brits - http://www.redcross.org.uk/donatesection.asp?id=77029

Those of other countries may feel free to post links to donate in your currency/to a reputable charity based in your country.

Personally donated the equivalent of ~$50.00 USD

Thank you so much for your help, any little bit will be greatly appreciated

[Boxcar Children]

I'll pray to.
I wish I could donate but I dont have a job to do that.

[sdf1macross]

I wanted to take the time to thank for the support in what it was a very difficult time, there is a lot too do still to recover what was lost, but the country is working hard to do so.
I am back in California and I still can't believe what happened, couple of other countries suffered earthquakes after the one in Chile, all my prayers go to them as well.