Thousands of residents near Houston and across coastal Texas have been rescued or are awaiting rescue from rising floodwaters that have left them trapped within homes in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The Category 4 storm made landfall Friday and by Saturday had weakened to a Category 1. However, it stalled as a tropical storm, pummeling southeast Texas with rain – with some areas predicted to receive as much as 50 inches overall – and causing devastating, life-threatening flooding, according to the National Weather Service.
About 2,000 residents had been rescued from their homes in Houston as of Monday; another 30,000 were expected to be driven from their residences. An estimated 6,000 residents were already housed at temporary shelters. At least eight residents across southeast Texas had been confirmed dead on Monday, according to Associated Press reports. That toll was expected to rise as rainfall was forecast to continue through Thursday.
Rescue and relief efforts have been well under way for days, though local residents can continue to contribute to relief efforts.
Those interested in helping with relief efforts may contribute to one of the following organizations:
The Texas Diaper Bank
Accepts diapers, wipes, formula, toiletries, baby food, underwear and socks and feminine hygiene products. Monetary contributions may also be made and earmarked for disaster relief efforts. For more information, visit the Texas Diaper Bank.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is accepting donations for disaster relief that may be set specifically for Harvey victims. Visit the American Red Cross online for more information. Donations may also be made to Red Cross efforts via phone at 1-800-HELP-NOW.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has mobilized and is planning long-term relief and disaster recovery efforts in communities impacted by the storm. Donors can contribute at the Salvation Army online, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by sending a check to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301. Donors should designate Hurricane Harvey on all checks.
While other organizations and relief efforts exist, potential donors should exercise caution when contributing. The Better Business Bureau advised today that scams related to storm recovery are already emerging. The BBB offered the following tips via media release on donating wisely.
- Verify the trustworthiness of soliciting relief organizations by visiting Give.org to access free reports that specify if the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
- See if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas. Unless the charity already has staff in the affected areas, it may be difficult to bring in new aid workers to provide assistance quickly. See if the charity’s website clearly describes what the charity can do to address immediate needs.
- Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups. Some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to those that have a presence in the region. Or, at a minimum, check out the ultimate recipients of these donations to see whether they are equipped to provide aid effectively.
- Be cautious about gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations. In-kind drives for food and clothing, while well intentioned, may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in need – unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to distribute such aid properly. Ask the charity about its transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not experienced in disaster relief assistance.
- Understand crowdfunding. Keep in mind that some crowdfunding sites do very little vetting of individuals who decide to post for assistance after a disaster, and it is often difficult for donors to verify the trustworthiness of crowdfunding requests for support. If you decide to contribute via crowdfunding, it is probably best to give to people who you personally know that have posted requests for assistance. For more Give.org tips on crowdfunding, check out this Wise Giving Wednesday post.
- Phases of disaster relief. Remember that every disaster has several phases – rescue, emergency relief, and recovery. Each part relies on public support and continuing funding for success. The need for donations doesn’t stop when the headlines do.
- Recovery time line. For many communities, recovery will be a long-term activity that can take many months or years to accomplish, depending on the extent of the damage. Those truly concerned about helping communities bounce back will have many opportunities to help.
- Disaster planning. Although it may seem obvious, no one wants to experience a repeat performance of a disaster. Areas that work toward recovery will probably also need to develop plans to better respond to a similar storm in the future. Even those that already had measures in place can find ways to improve based on experience.