The White House released a pretty comprehensive breakdown today of the actions taken by President Obama and his staff in response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Here are the details, as presented by the White House.
Tuesday, January 12
5:52 PM -The President is informed of the earthquake at 5:52pm. The President asks his staff to make sure that embassy personnel are safe, and to begin preparations in the event that humanitarian assistance is needed. The Department of State, USAID and the United States Southern Command begin working to coordinate an assessment and any such assistance.
8:30 PM – The President receives another update on the situation in Haiti from members of his National Security Staff. The President says expects an aggressive, coordinated effort by the U.S. government.
10:00 PM – Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon convenes a meeting in the White House Situation Room with senior representatives from: State, USAID, USUN, DOD, SOUTHCOM, JCS, DHS, Coast Guard, and National Security and White House Staff to coordinate the government-wide response, per the President’s request.
Wednesday, January 13
7:15 AM – The President receives two updates on the earthquake in Haiti. The President receives an paper update from the DHS National Operations Center (NOC), as well as a memo from the National Security Advisor which describes further background, key decisions that have been made, and actions that have already been taken.
7:30 AM – The USG holds interagency taskforce call.
8:45 AM – Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon hosts a Deputies Committee meeting on Haiti.
9:04 AM–The President receives an update from his National Security Staff, as well as from the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James Cartwright.
10:15 AM – The President speaks with USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah. The President thanks Dr. Shah for his immediate efforts over night and underscores his expectation for an aggressive and highly coordinated relief effort.
10:20 AM – The President delivers remarks about the earthquake in Haiti.
12:42 PM – The President speaks with US Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten.
1:12 PM – The President speaks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
2:15 PM – The President speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
2:23 PM – The President speaks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
2:36 PM – The President speaks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
4:50 PM – The President calls Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
5:00 PM – The President calls Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.
7:15 PM – The President meets with senior civilian and military personnel who are coordinating our relief efforts in Haiti in the White House Situation room. The President pressed his staff to work as hard as possible, and to get relief to Haiti as quickly as possible. The President underscored the importance of the relief effort for several reasons. First, because there are people who are in desperate need of life-saving assistance, including American citizens. Second, because American leadership requires that we demonstrate America’s commitment to help those who have been struck by such a terrible tragedy, particularly in our own region. And third, because of the deep ties between the United States and Haiti. The President received a comprehensive briefing from each of the agencies, including the State Department, USAID, DoD, JCS, SOUTHCOM, and USUN. Each leader discussed the resources that have reached Haiti, and the additional resources that are on their way. The President commended these efforts but also underscored the necessity to continue to move as swiftly and aggressively as possible, and to make it clear to the people of Haiti that life-saving support is on the way.
Thursday, January 14
(The President receives verbal briefings on the situation from Denis McDonough throughout the day)
9:30 AM– The President met in the Oval Office with several of his lead military and civilian national security team to receive an update on the situation in Haiti and on progress against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
4:17 PM – The President speaks with President Sarkozy of France about ongoing US and French relief efforts, and the need for coordination of immediate and long term international efforts to assist the people of Haiti.
4:30 PM – Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon convened a Deputies Committee for approximately 2.5 hours to discuss coordination of the United States Government’s relief efforts in Haiti. The meeting included senior representatives from: State, USAID, USUN, DOD, SOUTHCOM, TRANSCOM, JCS, DHS, Coast Guard, and National Security and White House Staff.
8:54 PM — The President speaks with President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic. The President expressed his appreciation for the role the Dominican Republic has played in facilitating the evacuation of US citizens and in the flow of relief teams and supplies into Haiti through the Dominican Republic. President Fernandez conveyed his assessment of the situation in Haiti following his visit today to Port au Prince.
10:15 PM -The President receives an update from Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon on relief efforts, the situation on the ground in Haiti, and tonight’s Deputies Committee meeting.
Friday, January 15
8:25 AM – The American public has responded to the Haiti crisis by donating more than $8 million for Haiti relief, $10 dollars at a time, by texting HAITI to 90999. Background: The U.S. State Department worked with the American Red Cross to rapidly stand up a text to donate solution that was then aggressively and widely promoted by the Obama Administration.
9:34 AM – The President receives a briefing on the situation in Haiti from senior staff.
10:06 AM – President Obama speaks for roughly thirty minutes with President Preval of Haiti. President Obama said that the world has been devastated by the loss and suffering in Haiti, and pledged the full support of the American people for the government and people of Haiti as it relates to both the immediate recovery effort, and the long-term rebuilding effort. President Preval said that he has been touched by the friendship of the American people, and expressed his condolences for the loss of American citizens in Haiti. He said that the needs are great, that relief is now flowing in to the people of Haiti, and noted the support that has come from both America and many other countries from the region and around the world. The two Presidents underscored the need to closely coordinate assistance efforts among the various parties, including the Haitian government, the United Nations, the United States and the many international partners and aid organizations on the ground. President Obama underscored his commitment to supporting the government and people of Haiti through his team on the ground. President Preval closed by passing a message to the American people, “from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the Haitian people, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
12:48 PM – The President receives an update on the situation on the ground in Haiti from Denis McDonough.
1:07 PM – The President makes a public statement about Haiti earthquake relief efforts.
3:00 PM – Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon convenes a Deputies Committee for approximately 2 hours to discuss coordination of the United States Government’s relief efforts in Haiti. The meeting included senior representatives from: State, USAID, USUN, DOD, SOUTHCOM, TRANSCOM, JCS, DHS, Coast Guard, and National Security and White House Staff.
