RACINE - A couple in Racine, who was waiting for word for nearly two days on the conditions of family members after the earthquake rocked Haiti, received some painful news.
Don Pitchers says that his wife, Stephanie Batrino-Pitchers, has lost her great uncle, her uncle and his wife.
He explained that they were having dinner when the quake struck, and the house collapsed in on them.
That's among the incredible loss in the Carribean nation.
Stephanie's grandparents migrated there from Lebanon, and Stephanie's grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins and even her sister were still there, stuck in the quake zone.
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Two people from Southeastern Wisconsin are reported missing in Haiti:
• Melissa Elliott, a college student from Hartland
• Peter Van Horn, a Town of Delafield Supervisor
More:
• Report: Milwaukee-Area Student Found in Haiti
• No Word Yet on Child Sponsored by WTMJ Anchor
• Racine Couple Loses Family in Earthquake
• Church Groups Workers OK
• UW Group in Haiti Unhurt
• Local Groups Reeling
• Milwaukee's Eyes on Haiti
• MSNBC Coverage
Audio:
• Mike Elliott, whose daughter is missing in Haiti, on 620WTMJ's Wisconsin's Morning News
• Dr. Ron and Ronnie Pruhs, who have done service work in Haiti for years, on 620WTMJ's Wisconsin's Morning News
Blog:
• The Cold-Filtered Ramblings of Gene Mueller: How To Help
TODAY'S TMJ4 HD's "How You Can Help Phone Bank"
• Call in with your pledge from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 14th to donate money to the Red Cross
Sampling of Haiti-Serving Charities with Milwaukee Connections:
• Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee World Mission Ministries
• Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project
• Friends for Health in Haiti
• Gesu Parish in Milwaukee, twinning with St. Jude's Church in Haiti
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Milwaukee, twinning with Norwich Mission House in Haiti
• Our Little Brothers and Sisters
• Salvation Army of Southeastern Wisconsin
• St. Francis Cabrini Parish in West Bend's Haiti Outreach
• St. Mary's of Hales Corners
• Three Angels Children's Relief
Other Efforts:
• Text HAITI to 90999 and $10 will be donated automatically to the Red Cross, charged to your cell phone bill
• MSNBC's List of Charitable Organizations
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Her sister barely survived.
"She was actually on the 3rd floor when the building collapsed," said Stephanie.
"She was able to slide down the rubble and get out. She does know there are at least two of her co-workers that had been killed in the collapse."
Her sister has cuts and bruises, but miraculously will be OK.
Stephanie described communication as very difficult in Haiti, an impoverished country with very poor infrastructure.
"(Her sister) said to expect e-mails from people we don't know," said Stephanie. "It's kind of like they are doing this tag team. Anyone can get word out that people are safe, they are trying."
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