Anderson Cooper in Haiti: 'I can't imagine being anywhere else'

 
As the magnitude of destruction in Haiti unfolded today, the broadcast television news divisions and cable news networks scrambled to get staff into the country to provide eyewitness reporting about the aftermath of the massive earthquake that hit Tuesday.

All three network anchors were headed to Haiti: NBC’s Brian Williams and CBS’ Katie Couric from New York, and ABC’s Diane Sawyer from Afghanistan, where she had been reporting this week. Many networks were able to get reporters into the neighboring Dominican Republic, but reaching Haiti was more difficult since the airport tower in Port-au-Prince was severely damaged.

CNN got a jump on its competitors when anchor Anderson Cooper handed off his nightly show Tuesday to substitute anchor Jessica Yellin at 11 p.m. to race to the airport in New York, a move that resulted in him being the first American television reporter on the ground in Haiti. He arrived at 10 a.m. Eastern time today after catching the last flight Tuesday into the Dominican Republic and then hopping aboard a helicopter with a Dominican government official into Port-au-Prince this morning.

Because of the chaos caused by the lack of air traffic control, his copter was nearly clipped by a fixed-wing plane trying to land at the same time, Cooper said in an interview.

Once on the ground, the anchor said he had witnessed staggering scenes of death and destruction, with bodies lying openly in the street, half-covered with pieces of cardboard. He saw a family frantically dig a young child out of the rubble as she cried out in pain; miraculously, they were able to extricate her alive.

“It is just blinding and painful,” Cooper said. “People are standing by the bodies because they don’t know what else to do.”

The logistics of conveying such scenes back to U.S. audiences remained a challenge as CNN and other networks tried to get satellite uplinks into the country. Cooper said his team was still trying to figure out a place to set up shop and where to stay.

“Everything is a challenge in Haiti in the best of times,” said Cooper, who has made 10 reporting trips to the country since 1993.

He said he was glad to hear that his competitors were also headed into the region to report on the story. “There’s nothing sadder than someone dying on the side of the road and no one even noting their passing,” he said. “I feel privileged to be here, lucky to be here. I can’t imagine being anywhere else. There are things that are extraordinarily horrific and signs of extraordinary strength, and that’s important for people to know.”

-- Matea Gold

Images courtesy CNN.

Comments

[Jan Davis]

Can the news please show the area called Delma 31 on the news my sister was living there working as a missionary in an orphanage.Her name is Julie Wirries
and she workes for Christian Light Foundation.
PLEASE HELP!

[Leann Richard]

Unfortunately Haiti has had to go thru such destruction for the world to finally take notice of the poverty and the needs they have. I was in Haiti on a mission trip a year ago and was astounded by how a country this close to the US lacked so much of the basic needs. Nannie is a missionary that has lived there for many years and is currently the director of the hospital in Port au Prince. Many Haitians know her and her knowledge and expertise could be of great value to you. She speaks Creole fluently and we have gotten word that she is alive. She also helps with the orphanage in the Capital. Hope this helps

[beatrice]

So, why haitian government is not able to rescue people and take care of the bodies in the street....? Is it to more humiliate haitian people ?

[Mary Padilla]

I am dominican and can tell you that all dominicans are united as one helping our neighbors. No one thinks about past history or present diferences, we are one island and as such, our people are reaching out to help in any way they can. Our hospitals are overflooded with injured people from Haiti, people are running to the red cross to donate blood, doctors are running to the border to help, all you hear on the radio, on TV, on the streets is LET'S HELP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN HAITI, I am really proud of my people, proud of how the government has responded sparing no expense to provide medical care, food, human resources and heavy equipment, just to help in any way we humanly can. I hope this serves as an eye opener for the internation community to realize that DR does not hate Haiti, we have differences because as a poor country, we can not carry the load of a country ravaged by nature and corrupted governments, and I hope everyone realizes that Haiti is a responsibility of all humanity, no just the dominican people.

[manu Jünemann]

I´m sorry i can´t appreciate this Anderson Cooper kind of journalism!

“I feel privileged to be here, lucky to be here. I can’t imagine being anywhere else."

How sick is that, go and see a doctor please!!!

[Elizabeth Hatcher]

Who determines the way all the funds being collected are to be dispersed? This may be the chance for this poor country to come out of the rubble, at least a little, if resources are used wisely. They are such a resilient people.

[Stephanie V.]

Please use care in selecting the agencies to give the funds to. I am alarmed that the American Red Cross is so prominent a recipient. Their track record is questionable, especially for a need like this one.

The State of New York has a good list of some alternatives.
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/HelpingHaiti.html

Partners in Health has given medical care in Haiti since 1987.
They are funded by some of the best and will make your money go a long way.

[Jorie]

We can't get supplies to Haiti, but we can get Anderson Cooper to Haiti?

How convenient, America.

[Marie]

I would like to send that message to Anderson Cooper.

I understand Anderson Cooper frustration for the way things are being done in Haiti. We do not have a competent, capable, honest government since late 40 the last government was Dumarsais Estime. Since then the authorities in Haiti only care about filling their pocket and prepare themselves for exile.
I am very worried about the money Haiti will receive. I would not like one cent to go to the Haitian authorities. They are corrupted from HEAD TO bottom. THEY ARE LOOTERS.

[marlene jenson]

I think Anderson Cooper has done a terrible job on reporting in Haiti. Why no stories on hundreds of people or more being left to die under earthquake rubble. There was a man who lived after the oakland earthquake pulled out three weeks after. Why did the search and rescue teams pull out so quickly instead of continuing to look for survivors. Also, why is the aid not getting to the haitians from the airport why no coverage on that. Why the heck are the medicines and other supplies that were at the airport why have they not gotten to the people?

[Jen]

i know this is not the place or the right time to send this message? but i would like to know When mr Cooper will go back to haiti. We will like some more coverage abt how the Haitians are doing these days especially that it started raining very often in Haiti. I do understand that the one in Chile is important now but i m asking you or even begging you not to forget Haiti. Please, please, please at least for a week or even 3 days Anderson Go back to haiti and tell us how things are going.