The Haitian Earthquake's Littlest Victims

(CBS)  CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric reports the Haitian people are hungry, thirsty, and desperate. They're doing their best to survive in tent cities. Couric toured one tent city. In this place, a truck provides a roof. And a bus becomes a home.

A single pot of soup is stretched to feed more than a dozen members of a family.

"That's for everybody," Couric asked. "What about after that?"
"Nothing," the woman replied.

Witness to the horror of Haiti

Frustration is reaching the boiling point.

One man told Couric that he remembered Hurricane Katrina. "This right here is worse," he said.

How to Help Victims

There are more masks - real and improvised -- because of the stench of bodies out on the streets. They have run out of body bags - metal sheeting has to suffice.

One thing not in short supply? The injured. Thursday, tents were set up by Complete Coverage: Disaster in HaitiCouric met a woman, whose stepdaughter and her cousin were both badly hurt. They said the houses came straight down, and injured them. They've been waiting for help, but no one has arrived. One girl said a block fell on her lower back and broke it. She cannot walk. One man gave up, and decided to take his relative to a hospital more than an hour away. Some trying to get into hospitals can't. Others pray it's not too late. "Family Links" Web site for the MissingThe University Hospital is bursting at the seams. A few doors down, kind of MASH unit has been set up by BFAST - a Belgian organization to take care of the overflow. As if that word could apply, when the overflow is in the hundreds of thousands.

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Thirteen-year-old Pierre LaRouse has a broken leg, and a head injury. His family died. His parents died.

Pierre reached out and took Couric's hand as the doctors worked on his leg. He screamed out in agony, "Why? Why? My leg."

"Squeeze my hand, squeeze my hand hard," Couric said.

"What a horror," he cried. "Why God, why is this happening to me."

The doctors were so short of medical supplies, that they asked Couric if she had a plastic cast for his leg. Couric checked with several medical facilities and was told that they had none.

Pierre's grandmother showed up shortly afterwards, and went in to comfort him.

[ebond123]

I am haunted by this video and am checking everyday for an update on Pierre. Please, PLEASE, let us know he's OK. I know he is one of many, but you brought us his story and have the responsibility to stay with him. Katie, you and Pierre will forever be connected.

[ebond123]

Don't forget him..

[parkwood38]

The story katie did with the little boy pierre with the broken leg hurt me to my heart.I know that the rescue teams are doing there best.However,it would put my heart at ease if they were to follow up.and see if this child came out ok.

[davidbthelen]

First of all, my heart and prayers are with the people of Haiti. My accolades go out to the military, rescue workers and others who are doing an excellent job trying to save as many lives as possible.
Secondly, as history will dictate, there will be other earthquakes, and hurricanes (Haiti and elsewhere) somewhere around the world. As harsh it may seem to even think about the next disaster, they will happen. The best way to be ready is for emergency equipment (i.e. heavy moving equipment) and other supplies to be pre-positioned strategically around towns that are prone to these disasters. Perhaps reinforced warehouses could be built to store these equipment and supplies.
For people who live in earthquake prone areas (i.e. California) should pre-stock emergency supplies. I found two useful websites.
www.ready.gov
www.redcross.org
One list supplies everyone in disaster prone areas should stock up on. The other list supplies you can purchase. Many areas of the world are very poor and they are in earthquake prone regions. I hope CBS news will do a report on items people should stock up on. In addition, I hope worldwide relief organizations will pre-position such equipment as large earth moving vehicles as mentioned. Plus distribute, at a big discount, emergency supplies to poor areas of the world.
As harsh it may seem to think about the next disaster, I hope your news organization will mention these websites. So perhaps while people are donating money or canned foods for the dear people of Haiti, they can stock up on emergency supplies as well.

[wahoosam2]

By all means, Teaparty, let's use this monumental catastrophe to get in a political dig.

[teaparty2010]

Just trying to show the Hypocrisy. If this were Bush, you would be writing to me with praise.

[troopf4]

Can you please blog without the name calling or is that all you
know how to do?

[teaparty2010]

Huh?

[teaparty2010]

How wonderful that President Obama is going to visit this devistated country. What, wait a min, oh sorry, he is going to Mass instead, gotta win that Senate Seat.

Shows you where his true values are.

[kbbpll]

Microsoft has posted imagery from yesterday, unfortunately not cloud-free. By this time tomorrow, more recent less cloudy imagery will be available.

http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#5872/style=a&lat=18.544191&lon=-72.340264&z=18&pid=5874/5003/0.6002=q:haiti:lat:40.5587603725762:long:-105.07800293&o=&a=0

[nopatriot]

I feel thank for USA troop in this time, I think it is right thing in human way.
However, it is too late after the earthquake, it could construct much stronger building.
I made a small donation , I do always through red cross.
Because I had a big one in Japan, when I was 11 years old, my father company sent us foods and waters from Tokyo Japan to the place.
I also asked to Japanese people to make a donation for the Haiti too.
They are good people, can understand people's situation.

[democracy1]

I wonder how those who can criticize humanitarian aid to the Haitian people can sleep at night. How many of them have ever had to experience anything even close to this? Yet they either attempt to turn it into a political situation for their own benefit (hellooooo, these are your fellow human beings here!) or they criticize these poor people and suggest that they've somehow brought it upon themselves. As if anyone in this country has ever had to live under the conditions that these people deal with on a day-to-day basis...

[democracy1]

How many children in America have ever had to eat "dirt cookies" just to have something in their bellies? Any American who has children must have enough of a heart to realize how sad that is.