Volunteer becomes Haiti's leading emergency responder after 2010 earthquake

Stacy Librandi arrived in Haiti in 2010 as an untrained volunteer in the aftermath of a devastating magnitude 7 earthquake. What began as a short-term mission to help distribute aid on the Port-au-Prince airfield has evolved into a 16-year commitment, with Librandi now leading HERO (Humanitarian Emergency Response Organization), Haiti's foremost emergency medical ambulance and medevac service.

Librandi's own life has been marked by unconventional experiences. Born in San Diego and placed for adoption, she had a nomadic childhood, left school early, and later navigated a failed marriage and a struggling photography business in New York. A building fire that destroyed her apartment in 2009 left her living out of her car, a situation from which she decided to volunteer for disaster relief in Haiti.

"I never saw my life going this way," Librandi told 60 Minutes, reflecting on her journey. "I just came down thinking I am going to give this a complete shot. And that was when I was born in a lot of ways." She began by facilitating aid distribution, organizing supplies that were rotting in the sun and delivering them to displaced people. This hands-on approach laid the foundation for HERO.

HERO has since grown into a critical emergency service, providing vital support during subsequent crises, including the 2021 earthquake. The organization's work is essential in a country where infrastructure for emergency medical response is severely lacking. Librandi's dedication has not only saved lives but also established a crucial service aimed at building Haiti's capacity for disaster response.

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I never saw my life going this way. I just came down thinking I am going to give this a complete shot. And that was when I was born in a lot of ways.