LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- A devastating earthquake left behind wide spread damage in the island nation of Haiti.

Almost immediately after the earthquake, Paul Casey's phone began to ring. Casey is the executive director of the Colorado Haiti Project.

There is no official word of just how many people may have been killed or injured, but some relief groups estimate the number could be in the thousands.

The 7.0 magnitude quake hit about ten miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince.

"I just wonder why this country continues to receive the brunt of Mother Nature's damage," said Casey.

Thursday, the Colorado Haiti Project has a medical group scheduled to depart for Haiti. The medical personnel take a trip every January to Petit Trou de Nippes, a remote part of the country, about 80 miles west of Port-au-Prince.

Casey said it is unclear if the group will still be able to travel as the airport may be closed to commercial flights. Tuesday, they were working with relief organizations to plan for how they can help once they get to Haiti.

"We are geared around lifting up the human condition in general and alleviating suffering," said Casey. "So to think of the prospect of it being any worse than it is to begin with is really tough."

The Colorado Haiti Project built a 500 person school and a women's center. He said their buildings are structurally sound; however the other buildings and homes in the area are not.