WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsStudent waits, worries about family in Haiti

Student waits, worries about family in Haiti

By Katie Rosenberg

MOSINEE (WAOW)--After two-years back home in Haiti, a former NTC student is back studying in the United States.

But after news of the earthquake and the thousands feared dead, he's worried, not about his upcoming semester, but about his family and friends back home.

Cleandsee Alexandre moved back to the United States 4 months ago to study engineering at UW-Stout. His parents live about 100 miles outside of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, the epicenter of the 7.0 quake.

He's tried contacting his family, without any luck. Now, he fears his brother and relatives may be lost in the quake's destruction. "I don't know where he is right now, He could be in the capital," Alexandre says of his brother. "I have my godfather, a bunch of uncles and aunts and cousins. I don't know where they are right now."

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and the government is historically unstable. Alexandre fears rescuers won't be able to respond fast enough. "I remember I was in Haiti in 2008 and just a house collapsed. They had to get help from the US Government."

As help arrives in Haiti, Alexandre knows it's a race against time. "That's going to be way too late, to save lives and stuff like that. It's really unfortunate, but that is the sad picture of my country."

The only thing Alexandre can do now is wait and ask for help. "I don't know, give clothing, no matter what they can do, they can pray and it's all about your contributions. No matter what you can do to help us."

Alexandre says he thought about going home for his Christmas break but changed his mind.

He hopes to get a hold of his family when the communication system is back up.

Online Reporter: Katie Rosenberg