Local woman worries for family in Haiti

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - It's a range of emotions for Huguette Antoine of Chesapeake.  She learned Thursday morning that her husband, visiting family in their hometown of Port-au-Prince, is alive and well, but she's worried about other family members missing since the quake.

When the massive earthquake struck Port-au-Prince and the images of devastation rolled in, Huguette Antoine's phone rang.

"My husband called me at, right after the first earthquake and he told me it's an earthquake bigger than he's ever seen before," says Antoine.  "He said the house was flat, like, broken down and right away, the communication cut off.  I was afraid. I was really panicked, really, you know, scared."

Not knowing the fate of her husband Jack and their family, Huguette turned to the one thing that's never failed her--prayer.

"I said, 'Lord, watch over your children and may your will be done on them.'"

For two days the Antoines waited for the phone to ring again. The images on TV were getting harder and harder to watch.

"When I'm looking at the picture that they're showing, where the center of the earthquake [hit], that's where he was at," says Antoine.

Then finally at five a.m. Thursday, the phone rang, and family on the other line said Jack is alive and well.

"I just said, 'Thank God.' You know? 'Just praise God.'"

As the day rolled on, sisters-in-law and more family called to say they are OK.

"There's quite good news so far, but there's still some missing that I haven't heard from..."

Huguette says she wishes she could do more to help.  However, so far her prayers seem to do the trick and she vows to continue her own version of rescue efforts from her home in Chesapeake.

"Just pray and hope for the best."

Huguette says her husband will more than likely want to help with recovery efforts in Haiti, so she isn't sure yet when he is going to come home.