Venezuelans residing in the United States are rapidly organizing donation drives and gathering essential supplies to send to their home country following a series of devastating earthquakes. Officials report that at least 188 people have been killed and hundreds more injured by the seismic activity, which included magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
The United States government has pledged $150 million in support for relief efforts, intended to aid organizations and the United Nations. The U.S. State Department announced the aid, while the U.S. military is mobilizing a disaster response team. This team includes urban search and rescue units from fire departments in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles. The military will also provide aircraft to assist with damage assessment, search operations, and aid delivery.
Major damage to Venezuela's main airport in the capital, Caracas, is a primary concern, potentially hindering the swift delivery of aid. The earthquakes, described as among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century, have caused widespread destruction, with images and videos showing injured individuals, including children, covered in dust and blood being extracted from rubble. Thousands more have been reported missing.
Large Venezuelan communities in the U.S., including those in Florida, Texas, and Utah, are actively participating in relief efforts. In the Houston area, social media groups are being used to coordinate local donation sites. First aid, medical supplies like gauze, bandages, antiseptics, gloves, masks, syringes, thermometers, and blood pressure monitors are in high demand.
Residents like Daniel Arenas in Houston, who moved to the U.S. a decade ago, are deeply affected. "My heart is still in Venezuela," Arenas stated, highlighting the lack of resources in the country to manage the crisis. He described a distressing message from his wife's aunt in Caracas, who reported being injured and having lost everything after her high-rise apartment was damaged.
In Katy, Texas, a suburb with a significant Venezuelan population known as "Katyzuela," residents are also actively collecting donations. Luis Angarita, a Katy resident, shared that his sister and her family in the mountain community of Caribia were forced to sleep outside after their home was damaged. They are attempting to reach their father's home across the capital, but road closures and the suspension of taxi and bus services present significant obstacles.
Aid organizations like the Doral-based Global Empowerment Mission are packing medical supplies, toiletries, water, and non-perishable foods. Billy Richardson, the group's U.S. logistics director, expressed optimism about overcoming delivery challenges, noting that alternative airports and transportation methods, or even entry through other countries, may be utilized.
Venezuelans in the U.S. with family in affected cities like Caracas and Valencia are also contributing financially. Oscar Torres, who moved to the U.S. in 1995, mentioned that some of his relatives sustained injuries while evacuating buildings. While homes have been destroyed and some buildings have collapsed, Torres indicated that he is not aware of any fatalities among his acquaintances.