Peru earthquake survivors loot, fight for food (Wizbang)

A major humanitarian disaster is shaping up, and word isn't in yet from the more remote areas, after the 8.0 intensity earthquake, reports Jean Luis Arce for Reuters:

Peruvians frustrated over slow emergency aid looted pharmacies and scuffled in food lines Friday as rescuers picked through rubble for survivors two days after a massive earthquake killed at least 510 people.

The Pacific coast city of Pisco, one of the hardest hit by the quake, suffered so many deaths that families squabbled in a graveyard over spots to bury their dead.

With the death toll still rising from a magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck south of the capital Lima Wednesday evening, a powerful aftershock renewed panic Friday and some people sprinted away from food lines in Pisco.

Read the rest at the link above. Thanks to Instapundit for the pointer.

One good agency that's already "on the ground" in Peru delivering relief is World Vision - donate HERE.

Everything we know about disasters reinforces the advice that we should be prepared to survive at least three days without outside help, and longer to be prudent. A good guide and checklist is Popular Mechanics' "Survive Anything", which includes advice which works for earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters.

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Comments (12)

I have a lot of faith that ... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Paul Hooson | August 19, 2007 1:55 PM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)

Paul Hooson:

I have a lot of faith that religious organizations will be some of the first on the ground to provide aid including the organization that Rev. Pat Robertson runs. But local police need to move in quickly and keep order.

Posted on August 19, 2007 13:55

I betch'ya Brownie got the ... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by BarneyG2000 | August 19, 2007 2:00 PM | Score: -3 (5 votes cast)

BarneyG2000:

I betch'ya Brownie got the consultation job on this one.

Posted on August 19, 2007 14:00

Demonstrating once again th... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Jim Addison | August 19, 2007 2:06 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Jim Addison:

Demonstrating once again that no human tragedy is too great for Barney to attempt to use it for partisan gain, the sick little **** that he is . . .

Posted on August 19, 2007 14:06

barney - 100% USDA Grade A ... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by marc | August 19, 2007 3:28 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

marc:

barney - 100% USDA Grade A A-Hole.

Posted on August 19, 2007 15:28

I'm disappointed, the Peruv... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Yogurt | August 19, 2007 4:13 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Yogurt:

I'm disappointed, the Peruvians are acting like they live in NOLA, I expected better...

Posted on August 19, 2007 16:13

The difference being, of co... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Jim Addison | August 19, 2007 4:17 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

The difference being, of course, that the Peruvians are looting food and medicine instead of flat-panel TVs and $200 sneakers . . .

Posted on August 19, 2007 16:17

It took two post for someon... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by jpm100 | August 19, 2007 4:17 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

jpm100:

It took two post for someone somehow find a way to connect this to the Bush Administration. Must be a lazy day.

I'm disappointed, ... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by jpm100 | August 19, 2007 4:34 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

The unfortunate thing is that the media had a multi-week campaign to lower the bar of accountability for the individual, city, & state in order to maximize "its Bush's fault".

Sometimes that lowered expectation rubs off.

Posted on August 19, 2007 16:34

I'd guess the Navy is nearl... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by kim | August 19, 2007 4:36 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

kim:

I'd guess the Navy is nearly there from Hawaii, unless any available help has to come from the Persian Gulf.
================

Posted on August 19, 2007 16:36

PISCO, Peru 17 Aug... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by OhioVoter | August 19, 2007 6:08 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

OhioVoter:

PISCO, Peru 17 August 2007 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is today loading supplies, surgical instruments, family food boxes, hygiene kits and tarps into a 747 cargo plane to be flown directly from Salt Lake City into the area affected by a major earthquake in Peru.
After the 8.0 quake hit Peru on 15 August 2007, the Church immediately responded. Working closely with the Peruvian Civil Defense Agency, the Church initially provided 10,000 blankets and other emergency supplies such as tents.

Local Church leaders have opened four Mormon chapels in Pisco as shelters and are providing food and water for displaced Peruvians.

The Church has substantial history and presence in Peru, where its membership is over 430,000. Current reports indicate seven members of the Church are among the dead, with 14 seriously injured. All Church missionaries are reported safe and accounted for.

from LDS.org

Posted on August 19, 2007 18:08

AL GORE and GREENPEACE wil... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by spurwing plover | August 19, 2007 8:39 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

spurwing plover:

AL GORE and GREENPEACE will probibly blame this on GLOBAL WARMING knowing how rediclous and stupid they are

Posted on August 19, 2007 20:39

Well, the Latter Day Air Fo... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by kim | August 19, 2007 11:11 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Well, the Latter Day Air Force is wingin' it. Romney's coreligionists do community as well as anyone.
=======================

Posted on August 19, 2007 23:11

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