Hurricane Harvey has crippled America’s fourth-largest city. This storm brought in heavy rainfall to Houston, Texas six trillion gallons of water, or 24 inches, in the past 48 hours, as reported by some media outlets Monday.
Many residents have been displaced and some even lost their lives due to the devastating storm, with several reports stating that roughly 30,000 residents will be needing shelter and the rain has not stopped while the water continues to rise.
If you would like to help those affected by the storm, here’s what you should keep in mind.
You can help right now
The
Red Cross said they depend on financial donations to help provide immediate relief. They have already set up a way to donate to victims with a simple text. Text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also visit
redcross.org or call 1- 800-RED CROSS. Americares
The United Way has also announced a way to text a donation: Text UWFLOOD to 41444 to donate to the United Way Flood Relief Fund
Donations to support
The Salvation Army‘s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts can be made at
helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
Give cash, not supplies
Most charities prefer monetary donations. These are more flexible and cause less of a strain on the charity, allowing them to help more,
USAID explained.
“Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees. It also enables relief organizations to spend more time providing aid by spending less time managing goods,” the organization explained on its website.
Volunteer at shelters
The American Red Cross in Texas has asked people
to volunteer. The office announced on Friday that it would be training volunteers at their shelters through a “fast=track” course. The Salvation Army also announced it would be accepting volunteers to hand out supplies and food at shelters. Check for a local group in your area that is
sending volunteers.
Volunteer Houston
has launched a VIRTUAL Volunteer Reception Center to aid non-profits and agencies in finding and deploying people to hard-site areas.
Go local
Grocery chain H-E-B plans to donate $100,000 toward Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. On Monday, all H-E-B, Central Market and Joe V’s Smart Shop stores across Texas launched a statewide tear pad campaign, giving customers an opportunity to support victims through donations of $1, $3, or $5, which can be added to their total grocery bill.
The
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund set up by Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, and administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
Houston Food Bank and the
Food Bank of Corpus Christi are asking for donations.
Carter BloodCare covers hospitals in north, central and east Texas. To donate, call
877-571-1000or text DONATE4LIFE to 444-999.
To help animals suffering from the disaster, visit the
Houston Humane Society or the
San Antonio Humane Society.
The
Texas Diaper Bank in San Antonio is asking for diapers and wipes, which can be dropped off in person or mailed to 5415 Bandera Road, Suite 504, San Antonio, Tex., 78238.
Check the charity
Before you donate to a charity, make sure you know where your aid is going. The Center for International Disaster Information recommends checking with a charity monitoring organization like
GiveWell,
Charity Navigator,
Charity Watch, or the
Better Business Bureau before donating.
Make sure your donation is secure by going through an organization’s official website or sending a check in the mail.
Charity Navigator says you should never donate over the phone, email or unknown social media pages, as these are easier for scammers to target.
Donate Blood
AABB, which coordinates a task force to manage blood collection efforts during disasters, put out a call on Sunday for blood donations in the aftermath of Harvey.
Those interested in donating blood may contact the following organizations:
AABB:
301-907-6977
America’s Blood Centers
American Red Cross: 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767)
Armed Services Blood Program:
703-681-5979
Online-Only Organizations
GoFundMe has created a page with all of its
Harvey-related campaigns.
Airbnb is
waiving service fees for those affected by the disaster and checking in between Aug. 23 and Sept. 1, and can guide users in creating a listing where their home is offered to victims free.
YouCaring has a fund-raising page set up by J. J. Watt of the
Houston Texans with a goal of $1 million.
GlobalGiving’s
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund supports local organizations by helping with “immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products and shelter.”
