Resident's father, brother found alive

After nearly three days of zero contact with her father or brother in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Baldwin resident Kebraeu Nicolas finally received word Jan. 15 that they were okay.

"It's a big relief," said Nicolas, who got the good news from her sister-in-law but hasn't spoken directly to her father or brother yet. "We heard that they're alive, but hungry. They're desperate for food."

Nicolas' father, Geques, and brother, Stephane, arrived in Haiti on business on Jan. 11, just one day before the 7.0-magnitude quake rocked the capital city of Port-au-Prince. They were scheduled to be there for two weeks, but had spent only a few hours before the quake struck. Nicolas did not know if they were safe until days later.

"It's heartbreaking," she said. "It was hard. I didn't sleep."

Nicolas spoke at a press conference in Roosevelt alongside Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams on Jan. 15, just hours before learning that Geques and Stephanie were alive. She fought back tears as she described what she and her family were going through, but thanked everyone who was contributing to the relief effort.

"I am so thankful for America, so thankful for all the help that Haiti is getting," Nicolas said. "In the midst of this tragedy, I do know that there is hope for Haiti."

But even as Nicolas breaths a sigh of relief that her father and brother are alive, she acknowledged that she has other relatives in Haiti still missing.

"We are still looking for other cousins," she said. "We don't know if they're alive ... or if they're dead."