Most of Pierre-Louis’ family survives Haiti quake

The tragic earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday sent figurative shockwaves throughout the southeast. Many Haitians, including the family of former Florida Gators senior cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis, leave their homeland to make a new life in the United States of America and more specifically in the state of Florida. In Pierre-Louis’ case, both of his parents and the vast majority of his family stayed behind, a fact that left him worried and scared as the events of this week unfolded.

“I kept calling, and nobody was picking up,” Pierre-Louis told the Palm Beach Post’s Ben Volin. “I have family in America that I called, and they said they couldn’t get anyone. I was just sitting there trying to call everybody.”

A native of Port-au-Prince (ground zero for the earthquake), it took Pierre-Louis a while to learn about his family’s whereabouts. “The house [where I grew up in] collapsed, but everybody made it out,” Pierre-Louis said. “There’s nothing left. I’ve been trying to find out what I can do. I’m going to send money down there.”

His parents, siblings and extended family survived save for one 26-year-old cousin who perished in another building. Learning that his family survived was easily the happiest moment in his life. “It was crazy. Better than winning a national championship,” he said.

You can donate to the relief effort through the Red Cross.

Special thanks to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post for getting the words straight from Pierre-Louis’ mouth on this story. OGGOA is glad his family is OK.