U.S. Pledges Help To Chile After 8.8 Earthquake

WASHINGTON — The U.S. "will be there" if Chile asks for rescue and recovery help after a powerful earthquake struck the South American nation, President Barack Obama said Saturday.

He also warned people in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the West Coast to heed the instructions of local authorities about evacuations and other measures in advance of a tsunami moving across the Pacific Ocean.

"We can't control nature, but we can and must be prepared for disaster when it strikes," he said in a statement at the White House.

Obama spoke as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning – its highest alert – for Hawaii. That alert was later canceled after the tsunami effects on Hawaii proved to be less serious than anticipated.

The Navy was moving more than a half dozen vessels Saturday to try to avoid damage from the tsunami, at the time of the more serious warning.

Before he spoke, Obama had a 20-minute conference call with staff and Cabinet members who updated him on conditions in Chile and on the tsunami. Participants included Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

"The United States stands ready to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts and we have resources that are positioned to deploy should the Chilean government ask for our help," Obama said. Chile's president, Michelle Bachelet, said her government has not asked for assistance from other countries.

Clinton planned to leave Sunday for a previously scheduled trip to the region. Her itinerary included more than a day in Chile, but it was unclear Saturday whether she would stick to it.

The U.S. Embassy in Chile was working to learn the whereabouts of U.S. citizens in Chile, both diplomatic employees and other Americans who may have been living there or visiting, State Department spokeswoman Megan Mattson said. There are 118 embassy employees in Chile, and by late Saturday all but one person had been accounted for, she said.

There were no reports of U.S. casualties, and the U.S. military said it had no reports that any of its forces had been affected either on land or at sea.

The State Department advises Americans seeking information on family and friends in Chile to contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 1-888-407-4747.

It was unclear how many Americans there are throughout Chile, but an estimated 1,000 live in and near Concepcion, which is Chile's second-largest city and only 70 miles from the earthquake's epicenter.

Comments

[RightisRight111]

06:28 PM on 02/28/2010

Once again, I see that Obama, POTUS, is SHOWING the world that he is not to be taken seriously.

[Chase Price]

06:10 PM on 02/28/2010

When something like this happens, you respond with "we are coming as fast as we can" not with "The U.S. "will be there" if Chile asks for rescue.

[brooklyncitizen]

05:35 PM on 02/28/2010

Caveat emptor. All US aid comes with price tag.
Chile survived Pinochet, they will survive this as tragic as it is.

[SweetestTaboo]

05:13 PM on 02/28/2010

So far, they seem to have enough of their own rescue units to help their own people which is good. But I am with the President, if they need us, then we must help them.

[DrewDaugherty]

04:06 PM on 02/28/2010

Anyone calling this imperialism like they did with Bush?

[WeMustSpeakOut]

07:19 PM on 02/28/2010

Imperialism is all this country understands, regardless of who sits in the oval office.

[cheetahpea]

03:43 PM on 02/28/2010

Of course we will... since you freely spend OPM Mr. Obama, yes, OUR tax dollars on anything BUT America, we will remember this in 2012.

FU.

[SweetestTaboo]

05:19 PM on 02/28/2010

I bet you are one or two checks away from disaster like the rest of us. I bet you got a big PHAT tax refund check, as well. So for all your complaining about your tax dollars, you don't pay any taxes anyway. You are being carried by somebody else who has to pay taxes and doesn't get all the low income credits.

[HardWorker1]

03:33 PM on 02/28/2010

As Americans of course we will help, but come on Barack when you get in front of a camera to address the world have a little class and put on a necktie!

[RightisRight111]

06:33 PM on 02/28/2010

Hahaha...you would think SOMEONE would tell him.......

[4KixAfter6]

03:03 PM on 02/28/2010

If they need t00ls, we can send them Repudlickers. Nothing would get done, in fact, the situation would probably become more dire, but they would have t00ls.

[RightisRight111]

06:31 PM on 02/28/2010

Tools, eh? If we sent them Liberals, they wouldhave fruit cakes. At least they could eat~

[AppeldP]

02:55 PM on 02/28/2010

I would do it with Michael Schuhmacher for them, and if i win, i spend it also to them!

[HarlemBrother]

02:54 PM on 02/28/2010

Brother Obama.
Where are we getting the money to go helping other folks and fighting wars all over the place ?; Aren't we broke ?
Shouldn't we be helping our own folks here at home more than we are at the present time ?
Brother Obama, we are becoming seriously disappointed with you; please drive that disappointment away, start doing some of the things you said you were going to do.
Start showing some street savvy and hood testicular fortitude.

Harlem Brother

[GunneraGirl]

03:31 PM on 02/28/2010

your post, the feeling behind it, brings about so much sadness and grief in me.

what to do, what to do?

i wish you well. i wish your message is heard.

[bluguy8]

02:27 PM on 02/28/2010

There with what? We don't help Americans looking for help . They should be a priority

[eddw88]

02:40 PM on 02/28/2010

Funny how republicans are never for helping Americans until one of our leaders offers help to another country. Then, at the same time republicans attack our leaders for helping Americans by accusing them of giving hand-outs.

Better yet, when republicans are hit with hardship they are the first in line for those hand-outs.

[eddw88]

02:09 PM on 02/28/2010

There are two types of tree huggers in the world.

1) Those who loves trees because trees serve great importance in balancing the ecosystem around the world and our very survival is dependant on trees.

AND

2) Those who loves trees because you can cut them down to make paper; and with that paper you can print money. Money which is in today’s time more symbolic of faith than of the hard commodities that they once represented.

The first group sees our resources being used and shared to benefit not only themselves but all mankind and creatures.

The latter group sees our resources as being limited to and for they themselves.

By your own confession you are in group two.

[RightisRight111]

06:30 PM on 02/28/2010

Let's see now: Eco system, money, eco system, money........I know!!!! Ask Al Gore!!! He has the best of BOTH worlds!!!

[eddw88]

01:54 PM on 03/01/2010

Who said that we cannot be rich and still maintain our Eco system?

Stop being sooo closed minded.

[jebamoni4]

01:38 PM on 02/28/2010

Every state in contigous US, under chill level. The winter has been very harsh on the citizen. Nobody gives a break on our economic and weather realated woes. Charity begins at home. Every citizen including senior citizens are afraid to turn the heat on. If we have compassion on the people of chille, let the corporate America who makes billions give their and bonuses away.

[ironcorp1]

01:12 PM on 02/28/2010

part 2I can go on and on.This nation is topsy turfy and in many ways makes me sick to my stomach.I suffer greatly for challenging facisim,even my children suffer in ways you wouldnt believe.But Ill stay and fight and keep faith and harbour hope.Facisim has taken root and swelled were it couldnt have in the absence of conformity and go along to get along.ITs those with the thinking of love it or leave it that are as responsible as anyone for this countrys fall since Nov 22 1963.I Suggest you get the hell out.Go somewere were everyone willingly lives on their knees.I suggest a middle easteran country.The quicker you sickening sheep leave the better chance we have of a restoration of this false Democracy.

[GunneraGirl]

03:41 PM on 02/28/2010

there is something very insightful in your post, esp. the bit about conformity. the overwhelming pressure to conform or else. you are so right, and i would love to see you expand your post into a larger piece, because i think you are really onto something.

it is this pressure to conform, which i source in corporate-think, which is creating such a dull, lusterless and superficial culture.

[october2009]

01:03 PM on 02/28/2010

I think we're entering an era where one group of people think our government is too expensive and isn't capable of offering good quality services at a good price, while another group wants government to offer even more services regardless of what it costs the American citizens.

One group would rather have the freedom to choose how they spend their own money, while others don't mind being forced to spend their money by 535 people in Washington D.C.

The irony is that our government is truly way too big and unmanageable and it seems like they can't keep any of their promises even if they try to.

If our government doesn't reduce it's size and obligations, it will collapse from its own weight... And bring every American citizen down with it... It's a scary thought but I'm afraid it's going to happen if they don't cut cut cut soon.