NYC's Haiti Response Praised Ahead Of Quake Anniversary

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised New York City's assistance to the country's recovery efforts.

Addressing a congregation and members of the Haitian community at the Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men in Brooklyn, the mayor said city employees had donated more than $2.2 million to the cause.

Bloomberg said "every penny" was sent directly to organizations in Haiti. He also praised the search and rescue teams that helped save lives there, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.

WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs on the mayor commending the city for its relief efforts

"In the days immediately after the earthquake, they pulled six survivors out of the rubble -- including two children, who had been trapped for an incredible seven days," Bloomberg said, "that really was a miracle."

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly also traveled to Haiti in August and  six Creole-speaking NYPD officers were sent to the country to assist with the security situation.

Even after the earthquake that left over 200,000 people dead, the country experienced additional hardships in 2010.

Towards the end of October, Haiti dealt with a major cholera outbreak, which its government estimated had killed over 3,000 people.

In November, Hurricane Tomas flooded the already dilapidated tarp and tent camps in the city's capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding towns.

During that storm, Brooklyn Councilman Mathieu Eugene called for a "sustainable plan" to minimize damage during natural disasters.  He said a strategy to "provide resources" to people in their time of need was still necessary.

The mayor acknowledged that more needed to be done to help in the recovery, adding that New York would be there.