If you believe the old adage that charity begins at home, there has never been a more devastating tragedy to hit home than Hurricane Harvey. Houston needs our help.
About 20 trillion gallons of rain fell on the area—enough water to supply New York City’s needs for more than 5 decades, according to ABC News. An astounding 52 inches of rain were recorded in under five days at Cedar Bayou, on the outskirts of Houston, setting the record for the country’s heaviest rainfall.
In the storm’s aftermath, 44 lives have been lost and countless injuries have been reported. 185,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, 364,000 people have registered for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and 42,000 people are living in shelters. These numbers continue to rise. More than 80 percent of homeowners in Houston do not have flood insurance. Many more people don’t have adequate health insurance to protect against the increased risk of a health epidemic caused by stagnant waters. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said that the cost of Harvey could require federal support far in excess of $125 billion, which could make Harvey the costliest storm in US History.
Help is arriving, with 24,000 National Guard troops deployed to assist in relief efforts. More than 280 Navy and Marine ships are in port or on the way. By Humvees and helicopters, troops are making their way to rescue victims and providing medical aid, maritime security and logistics help. Good samaritans are driving in trucks with boats from neighboring cities and states. Neighbors are helping neighbors.
Yet in one of America’s largest cities, where people are losing their lives, their homes, their savings, and even their health, the need for aid continues to grow. This is an unprecedented disaster. Houston needs our help in Dallas, and these are some of the charities that ensure your donations go directly to the people in need:
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Ed Emmett have established this fund, which accepts flood relief donations to help victims of the flooding. This fund is housed at the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
Americares: For every $10 you donate, this charity can provide $200 in aid because of its existing infrastructure. Americares is on the ground distributing water, aid, and mobilizing medical outreach with local partners. Thousands of people are in need, and Americares needs your help in continuing to keep up with demand. Donate to provide emergency medicine and supplies today.
Baker Ripley: After the flood waters recede, this charity is responsible for assistance with long-term recovery. In collaboration with other agencies, they will pick up after the initial emergency responders and work on helping people restart their lives.
Houston Food Bank: America’s largest food bank is prepared to mobilize resources across Houston, asking for volunteers, donations, and monetary contributions. Their donation page reminds that every $1 donated provides 3 meals.
Direct Relief: This charity is supporting efforts in Houston and throughout Texas and equipping health clinics that care for the State’s most vulnerable. They provide epidemic prevention kits, among other health care benefits, so if health scares emerge, this becomes an even more important avenue for relief.
Text “Harvey” to 90999: To give $10 to the Red Cross to help people impacted by the hurricane. No donation is too small, so if you are on a tight budget, this is a way to contribute.
In addition to donating, one of the best ways to show you care is to spread the word about these organizations. Using your social media voice, share this post with friends and family and encourage them to do the same. Together, we can uplift our neighbors and restore quality of life in Houston. Houstonians would do the same for us.