Hurricane Harvey Disaster and Relief
Shannon King, Charity Director
Tropical Storm Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 storm along Southeastern Texas. According to the National Hurricane Center, Category 4 hurricanes have sustained winds of 136 to 156 mph. Hurricane Harvey is the strongest hurricane to hit Texas in decades.
Overwhelming amounts of rain fell over some of Texas’s most populated cities including its capital and the nation’s fourth largest city, Houston. The devastating rainfall stretched along the Texas coast from Corpus Christi to Houston and making its way inland to Austin and San Antonio. Parts of Louisiana are also experiencing heavy rainfall.
In Houston, tens of thousands of people are displaced from the flooding. Hundreds of thousands are without power in Texas.
National Weather Service calls the flooding “unprecedented” and warns that the situation could become worse if the forecasted record breaking 50 inches of rain falls on parts of Texas in the coming days. Dallas is preparing for worsening conditions by turning its main convention center into a “mega shelter” which can host 5,000 evacuees.
Many airports are closed due to flooding until further notice.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” ― Fred Rogers
America always pull together in times of crisis. Local police and rescue agencies as well as the Coast Guard have been working around the clock to save flooding victims Good Samaritans, some with boats, are helping each other and their animal neighbors escape the raising flood waters. To help Texas flooding victims, refer to the links below.
The Texas Diaper Bank is in need of diapers for displaced families as diapers are not provided by disaster relief agencies: https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-change-a-life
You can donate blood to the American Red Cross and the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, which said they were desperately in need of blood donations prior to the storm. They are asking specifically for O negative and positive blood types.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army are asking for donations as they provide water and shelter to the storm victims. “Right now the best thing people can do is donate money” Said Katrina Farmer, a director with the American Red Cross. “This is going to be an expensive disaster.”
Donations to the Red Cross for those affected by Harvey can be made online or text HARVEY to 90999.
https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey?campname=Harvey&campmedium=aspot
Donations to the Salvation Army can be made online:
https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app362b?df_id=27651&mfc_pref=T&27651.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=7D83ADF3DC5B202D97E48EC4DA2D792D.
Catholic Charities is accepting donations online:
https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/CCUSADISASTER, or text CCUSADISASTER to 71777 to donate.
Airbnb is waiving all service fees for those affected by the disaster and checking in between August 23 and September 1.
https://www.airbnb.com/disaster/hurricaneharveyevacuees