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Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc in Texas. Ten deaths and many more injuries have been reported, while the storm is expected to scourge the region for days to come with “catastrophic” flooding and torrential rains. According to the Houston Police Department, it has rescued over 3,500 people since the storm began, while the number has most likely risen in Harris County from the total of 2,200 reported Monday. Governor Greg Abbott has said that over 300,000 customers have lost electricity. Florida, Virginia, and New York are sending emergency workers and equipment to Texas, while celebrities including Beyoncé (who is a Houston native) and Kim Kardasian are pulling out their own resources. Here’s what you can do to help.
Donate moneyCharities are working hard to provide relief, and you can send your donations to organizations including The Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, Save the Children, and the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. The American Red Cross has been active in pleading for donations, though the organization has been embroiled in controversy regarding how much of its donations actually go towards relief, especially considering its meagre efforts following Haiti's earthquake.
Houston's Mayor, Sylvester Turner, has set up the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, while the United Way of Greater Houston fund will help those in immediate needs as well as those requiring long-tern assistance.
On a smaller scale, GoFundMe has set up a dedicated page for fundraising initiatives for Hurricane Harvey, including ways to donate to anything from animals to individual families in need.
Katrina Farmer, director of American Red Cross offices in parts of Texas, told USA Today that the best thing people can do right now is to donate money. “This is going to be an expensive disaster,” she said.
Donate bloodHospital evacuations caused by the storm will lead to an increased demand for blood, while disrupted blood-drives are affecting supply. A list of blood banks have put out calls for extra donations following the storm, including the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and Carter Blood Care.
If you’re not in Texas, you can still donate through a Red Cross donation center. Also the AABB has put out a call for blood donations--especially those with type O-positive blood are in high demand.
Help animalsMany animals have lost their homes in the storm, as many have been forced to leave their pets or have been forcefully separated from them. You can help animals by volunteering for the Animal Defense League of Texas or by donating to the Humane Society of North Texas.
Offer accommodationAirbnb has set up a portal for those affected by the storm to find accommodation and for others to offer up their homes. Services fees have been waived for those affected and checking in between August 23 and September 1.
Make sure you're donating to a trusted organizationPer recommendation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, donors should check with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster for a list of trusted organizations. Also Charity Navigator provides a list of charities responding to Hurricane Harvey.
Lastly, the Federal Trade Commission has provided a list of tips, including doing research before giving ("Searching the name of the organization online — especially with the word “complaint(s)” or “scam”— is one way to learn about its reputation".) and remaining wary of organizations that suddenly spring up amidst disasters ("Even if they are legitimate, they probably don’t have the infrastructure to get the donations to the affected area or people.")