Haitian officials are hearing reports that scores of thousands may have died in the powerful earthquake that struck the country. Many more may have been injured and made homeless. News reports tell of survivors without food and water digging the dead and injured from the rubble with their bare hands.

As governments were readying responses, Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief International already had $420,000 worth of medicines, supplies and nutrition on the way to a children’s hospital in the island nation. Direct Relief so far has committed up to $1 million in aid for the response, a number that may rise as the extent of the damage becomes clearer.

Direct Relief has made a great start, but the cost of the humanitarian aid response in Haiti could reach billions of dollars. We encourage businesses and nonprofits in the Tri-Counties step up to contribute to relief efforts as they have during past disasters.

• See the Jan. 22 print issue of the Business Times for a roundup of what other organizations and businesses are doing to help the Haitian relief effort. If you know of a company or nonprofit that has contributed to the cause, either monetarily or otherwise, please e-mail Assistant Managing Editor Marlize van Romburgh at mvr@pacbiztimes.com and let her know.