As many of you know, a massive earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, just 10 miles outside of Port-au-Prince. The disaster is expected to have killed thousands of people, according to Haitian president Réné Préval.

The effects of the earthquake hit home in Philadelphia—according to the 2008 Census Bureau's American Community Survey, more than 5,000 Philadelphians originally hail from Haiti. In 2007, there were an estimated 8,800.

Those with family in Haiti can call 1-888-407-4747, a number set up by the State Department and American Citizen Services. At this time, communication is still difficult.

Details are unfolding by the hour—to stay informed, click here for a Google search that is updated in real-time as articles are posted. Check out Charity Navigator's ways to help and a guide for protecting yourself from online scams.

To learn more about Haiti and its history, click here.

Be sure to visit our website later today for more information.