Last April, the US Navy's hospital ship
USNS Comfort spent 11 days in Haiti as part of its 2009 humanitarian aid tour of Latin America. While in Haiti, they treated 6,731 patients and performed 161 surgeries. At the beginning of this week, they were in a state of reduced operations in Baltimore harbor. They normally need 5 days to prepare to ship out. They got the order on Wednesday, will be ready to leave tomorrow morning, and should be in Haiti on Thursday. When they get there, they will probably anchor off the coast, and let helicopters bring patients to them.
The Comfort started life as an oil tanker in the 1970s, and was converted to a hospital ship in 1987. She has beds for 1000 patients.
Around a week and a half from the earthquake until she's on site, but for the people she will treat,
Comfort will be very good to see again.