Habitat director checks in from Haiti

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Local Habitat for Humanity director Doug Taylor and his son Austin traveled to Haiti, planning to build houses in Pigion. 

On Tuesday a devastating earthquake struck and the Taylors experienced a change of plans. 

Doug Taylor is now in Port-au-Prince the epicenter of the quake. He said help is not coming fast enough and the people are beginning to become desperate. 

Doug Taylor said he was on a soccer field 60 miles away from the epicenter when the quake struck. 

"It was real strong. Everyone knew there was an earthquake but we didn't think too much about it," said Doug Taylor.

When Tuesday's earthquake struck, the Taylors headed toward Port-au- Prince to try to find friends.

"The first place I went was the National Haiti Habitat office and found that it was destroyed. It's unbelievable. It's like being thousands of Oklahoma City bombings, its just amazing," said Taylor.

The Taylors are now staying with Claude Jeude, the National Director for the National Haiti Habitat.  Doug Taylor said he is sleeping outside in the streets, but that is no hardship compared to what he has seen in Port-au-Prince.

"Yesterday a lady came to our car and said that her son was still trapped and she could hear him, she needed help getting him out. But it's just too dangerous. You just can't help them, and they want you to help them, because they see that you are white and you might have the means to help. So that's very hard," said Doug Taylor

Doug Taylor said people are becoming desperate but for the most part have been very cordial, kind and calm. He said he is in the safe part of town near all the journalists. He is hoping to find a relief group to join in the next 48 hours or else he and his son Austin will cross into the Dominican Republic to fly out.

"They are running out of food, running out of water. And then to see the walking wounded, people just walking around with head injuries and leg injuries. A lot of helicopters are starting to come in. I keep watching by the airports and there are cargo planes coming in. On the streets right now there is very little help, which is very frustrating," said Doug Taylor.