roz from chile post earthquake

dear familly and friends
writing to you from Chiloe, an island quite far froom the epicenter. we are lucky to be here as we are very safe there is no evidence of the earthquake other than power wass out for awhile and we have not yet found a functioning ATM. Just now got into a hotel with a tv so we are seeing what is happening which is quite catastroprhic. We were at an eco tourist area, very remote last nite, when it struck. We did not feel anything but another guest said she did feel her cabin moving. Benny got a call from a friend in curico who told himabout the earthquake .  The place where we were lost interntet and elec so we couldnt contact people. So we went kayaking and the ironic thing is this place Chepu, is known for the rivers of sunken forests which were a result of the ocean pouring into the river because of the last earthquaske of 1960 which was the worst ever recorded .  When you travel here, so often there is information about the reconstruction since that earthquake.
Benny tried contacting his new host family. it is worrisome because they are in concepcion tvacationing and gettting their daughter set up for college there . It is really close to the epicenter.  He only reached a worker at the family house so far whof gave vague infromation, sounding  like they are "more or less ok".    His town has had quite a bit of damage, As far as I understand , I think about 200 people have died in chile. It is really a modern country and they seem equipped to deal with the problems, in contrast to Haiti.
But the main corridor road North/south is closed in a lot of areas  because of fallen roads and bridges. We had bus tickets to go to Santiago tonite but there will not be busses going there for the next couple days, at least. There were some bldgs. collapsed at the airport which is closed at least for 2 days. I was supposed to leave tomorrow but was given a flight for Thursday, as the first possibility. We returned to the main town , Ancud, at the north end of the island to be closer to civilization and to find out more about what is happening and try to figure out a new plan. Benny is relieved to just now hear that the new famiily is fine.
I'm wondering if we will be able to help out anywhere in the next few days. So I have at least 5 more days here in Chile...life is sure unpredictable. We are lucky that we didn't leave last nite or we could have been on a bus right by the epicenter when it happened.
Tonite we plan to go to a  bar iin honor of Purim, where we will have pisco sours!
Thanks for yo0ur caring and we send love from here in Chille. rozy