English version: Earthquake in Peru

JANIS
I have wondered to myself what would happen in Lima if there was an earthquake. I realize the country is on the Nazca fault so earthquakes are, in a sense, inevitable. But it has been some time since there was an earthquake that had this effect in Lima. You could feel the tremors for an unbearably long time. It is no longer “if” but “now” and you can see the effects in your country now.

LOU
You know that my country, Peru, is located in South America in an area with earthquake movements. You might think that I am accustomed to feeling tremors. But that is not the truth. All of my life I have lived in Lima but I have never been directly involved in an earthquake. That is past.

On the 15th of August Lima felt a movement very strongly; the epicenter wasn’t in Lima but to the south in the Pacific Ocean facing the city of Pisco. The nearby cities of Chincha, Ica and Canete were almost destroyed.

JANIS
It is hard to describe for Americans the devastation of the earthquake. I arrived in Lima about 10 hours after you felt the tremors the previous evening. It was reported on CNN in the Miami airport as I was leaving the US. I had no idea what to expect. I only know that American Airlines was flying into Peru. And, there was no way I was not going to be there…regardless of what had happened. I have share stories and pictures with friends since I have returned. When so much of the population in Peru struggles with poverty…it is hard for Americans to see in their minds the results of this event. Even with Hurricane Katrina two years ago… LOU
Hurricane Katrina was very stron and the city of New Orleáns was flooeded and many people lost their hoomes. It was very painful. The earthquake to the south of Lima destroyed almost all of the houses in the cities of Chincha and Pisco. Here in Lima it was felt very strongly; it seemed the movement would never end. It lasted 2 minutes without stopping. After the movement people wanted to use the telephones but no one in Lima or in Picso or Chincha could comunícate with their familias. The capital of Peru was isolated from communication because cell phones and home phones did not work. En the areas directly affected by the earthquake, everything remains in ruins. There are no telephone lines, no water, no electricity and no food. We feel as though we are people living in the Middle Ages without Basic services of daily lving. After the earthquake you can see on the TV the homes in ruins, people in the streets who have lost their homes, many people are buried under the rubble. Thank God that friendly governments and the people of Peru are living asístanse to these people. Until today the 6th of september we are thinking of sending more help to the people in these cities. JANIS
Yes, the comparison to Katrina is similar. I can’t imagine how you must have felt for two incredibly long minutes of tremors in Lima. And, that would be no comparison to what happened in the affected area. I tried to call you as I left Miami….and your sisters. But, of course, I could not reach anyone. After my arrival the day following the earthquake many people had to wait for water and electricity particularly the people in the zones where we have been working. The generosity of the people in Lima was amazing. Remember the shelves of the grocery store in the Metro a few days later? The news was all over the TV in the US, but I was there in Peru. My friends have asked me how they can help. I think easy ways to donate would be to donate through http://www.buckner.org/ and http://www.e3partners.org/. We have worked directly with them in our projects. I know they are working hard to bring help to the people in Chincha, Pisco and Ica as well as other small pueblos in the area. LOU
The area of the earthquake has produced more than 500 deaths. If the earthquake had been here in Lima, I believe that many more people would have died because there are house with very fragile structures. Many families live in only one house and this makes the place more dangerous. Here in Lima there are 8 million people. There would be more without telephones or electricity and water. I can’t imagine an earthquake in Lima, but if there is, I only hope to see how the human spirit can provide help for the Peruvians who would be affected by such a disaster.