Congressman Chris Smith today expressed sorrow for the loss of lives and homes in the nation of Haiti following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake.

Smith said that he is in touch with the U.S. State Department and its Office of Consular Affairs and its American Citizens Service to assist constituents from his district desperate to make contact with relatives in Haiti.

“The level of destruction that has struck at Port-Au-Prince is shocking,” said Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “For the people there it’s a catastrophe beyond words. It’s a sad day but it is also a time to give assistance to a friend and neighbor. The sadness is being felt close to home very personally and profoundly. We know of more than two dozen missing people who have ties to family in Trenton, Hamilton, and other parts of the district. The phones are down. They can’t get through. We’re trying to get information on these individuals.”

“My staff and I are doing everything we can to ensure that the State Department is aware of the missing loved ones with relatives in our area, “ Smith said.  “Anyone needing additional help or information is encouraged to contact my office at (609) 585-7878 or one of the contact numbers provided by the State Department and listed below.”

Contact information:
 

• Family/Friends in Haiti can contact the U.S. Embassy directly via email at ACSPaP@state.gov

• If you are trying to locate a U.S. Citizen in Haiti, a task force has been set up and can be reached via telephone at 1-888-407-4747 or via email at ca-taskforce@state.gov.

• Haitian Citizens or Americans trying to locate Haitian Citizens should contact either the Haitian Embassy in Washington DC via telephone at 202-332-4090 or the Haitian Consulate in New York City at 305-859-2003.

• Constituents that would like to help are asked to contact the American Red Cross or the Center for International Disaster Information via email at http://www.cidi.org