On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 an earthquake struck Haiti with a 7.0 magnitude. By January 24 there were at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or higher. Destroying almost everything. Can you imagine waking up and seeing buildings demolished, and your city in flames?

Below: In -au-Prince, Haiti. January 20th, It may take years, possible decades for Haiti to fully recover from the earthquake. Left: The presidential palace in Port-au- Prince lies in ruins after the earthquake. It was built in 1918 after two other palaces on the same site were destroyed. Rescuers clawed at the rubble as they battled to get to those trapped beneath thousands of collapsed buildings on the Caribbean island. Nothing was left untouched. Shanty towns, schools, hospitals, the parliament building and even the presidential palace had crumbled under the force of nature. Bodies of children were piled up next to schools. In the capital, Port-au-Prince, the remains of men and women lay under covers in the street as flies began to gather.

Left: Financial Center presented a check to the American Red Cross in the amount of $26, for the Haitian earthquake relief. The American Red Cross Haiti Assistance Program will continue for the next three to five years providing shelter, improving the water supply and sewage systems, developing health programs and helping families rebuild their lives with financial assistance. Right: Engineering students from the University of Wisconsin–Madison rebuild critical waterlines and bridges.

Since January 2010, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross have joined together to bring lasting change to families in Haiti. Today, many families left homeless by the earthquake have a safe and decent place to call home because of the commitment and hard work of our local teams. Red Cross steps in and helps Haitians.

“ Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.” I want to thank the Red Cross, Engineering students, and many more organizations for coming together and making an effort to help Haiti. They’re not just rebuilding the country, they’re rebuilding lives. Left: When it comes to helping the global community recover from natural disasters, engineers are at a distinct advantage. Not only can they build survivor- seeking robots and provide food and clean water for those affected, but they also have the ability to analyze the aftermath of a storm or a quake and help communities be better prepared for such events. Engineering students and professionals across the country are now using their skills to help rebuild Haiti.