The French words on one tsunami website felt like a stab through Mary Duffy's heart: "We're waiting for news of you. Please contact Mom and Dad."
When Duffy, 51, a retired Internet specialist from the Silicon Valley, pictured the desperate French parents looking for their daughter, missing in the disaster in south Asia, she realized that donating money to tsunami relief efforts was not enough.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday January 06, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 59 words Type of Material: Correction
Finding tsunami victims -- An article in Tuesday's California section about people using their linguistic, research and computer skills to help families find tsunami victims said Web designer Scott Powell lived in Tacoma, Wash. He lives in Vancouver, Wash. It also said that he downloaded photos on the Internet. He uploads the photos to post them on the Internet.
In French, Duffy wrote to them: She wanted to help them search.
And so began her tireless effort over the last week to help people who do not speak English or are not Internet savvy find out whether their loved ones were dead or alive.
"I imagined myself or my sister missing, and my parents not knowing what to do," Duffy said. "It got to me. I never felt that way before .... That's how it started."
Across California and the country, people who do not know anyone caught in the tsunami are offering linguistic, computer and research skills to help others search.
Some have combed more than 30 victim-tracking websites, linking postings and names that might be related. Others have called hospitals and friends in the affected countries. Still others have created websites and posted photos and descriptions of the missing. One posted this message: "I have tons of free time. Love to do something to help if you need extra set of fingers."
There is plenty to do. The State Department estimated Monday that nearly 4,000 Americans remain unaccounted for throughout the Indian Ocean nations affected by the tsunamis, which killed 150,000 people in 12 countries, according to the latest estimate from the United Nations.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday he expected that figure to go down as travelers check in with families.
South Africa, Australia, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland lead the nations outside the region with citizens confirmed as missing in tsunami-affected areas, or still unaccounted for. Each country listed more than 1,000.
From her Santa Clara Valley home, Duffy has spent every morning and evening of the last week studying websites and consoling families who seem to be giving up hope. At any time, she said, she has 30 site windows open on her computer screen.
Last week, Duffy replied to this message from Bitsa Burger in Guerneville, Calif.: "Still seeking ANY info on Mary & Jerry DeVries, their 2 children & parents. My contact info was left out before. PLEASE CALL ... I MUST find out if they're OK."
