Not familiar with Houston, the 4th largest city? To help you understand the devastation: Houston is huge. The greater metropolitan area is circled by the Grand Parkway – 170 miles long. That makes the area of the circle inside the Grand Parkway over 2200 sq. miles. 2200 square miles of densely inhabited, urban and suburban, areas with over 7 million residents is flooded. Imagine if the entire state of Delaware, with twice the population of Manhattan NYC, was under water. That’s Houston. It’s still raining y’all.
If you are looking to help with Storm Relief Efforts then check out our info we have posted below.
TEXAS ROAD CLOSURES
To help you all stay up to date on road closures in your area.
https://drivetexas.org/#/7/32.340/-99.500?future=false
Contact us at 1-800-452-9292.
If you would like to volunteer and help out at shelters in Lake Charles or across the state visit www.volunteerlouisiana.gov
The Cajun Navy is not a replacement for first responders. If you are in immediate danger, please dial 911. https://cajunnavy.supportsystem.com/
Chambers County Longterm Recovery Organization
Chambers County, Texas, is suffering from massive loss due to the flooding effects of Hurricane Harvey. Chambers County is the county located located directly east of Houston and has gotten up to 40 inches of rain since Hurricane Harvey made landfall. Further, Hurricane Harvey is expected to reenter the coast on Wednesday between Houston and Chambers County, putting Chambers County on the eastern or “wet” side of the storm, with more flooding to come throughout the week.
Any monetary donations would be much appreciated in order to deal with the long-term issues the county will face after the storm has passed. This fund will go towards helping the residents of Chambers County in need, such as basic hygiene items, food, water, and shelter. With most of media attention focused on Houston, your donation will go to a smaller community that isn’t getting the same media coverage.
Thank you for your donation!
Houston Flood Relief Fund
For: Victims of Hurricane Harvey
Organizer: JJ Watt of NFL’s Houston Texans
https://www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053
Hurricane Harvey has taken a catastrophic toll on our great city, while leaving many stranded and in need of assistance. We must come together and collectively help rebuild the aspects of our community members lives that were damaged or lost. Any donation that you can spare, no matter how large or small, is greatly appreciated. We will come out of this stronger than ever. We are Texans.
Laurel Wamsley from NPR compiled a great list of information of which you can check out by clicking here or look below:
General Relief
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner established a Harvey relief fund at The Greater Houston Community Foundation. The organization connects donors with a network of nonprofits and innovative solutions in the social sector.
GlobalGiving, which calls itself the largest global crowdfunding community, has a goal of raising $2 million for its Harvey relief fund. Funds will be used first for immediate needs of food, water and shelter and then transition to long-term recovery efforts.
United Way of Greater Houston has launched a relief fund for storm-related needs and recovery. The organization says it already maintains a disaster relief fund but anticipates the needs of Harvey will far exceed those existing resources.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has also launched a Hurricane Harvey relief fund. The organization says its strategy emphasizes “investing well rather than investing quickly, addressing the greatest needs and gaps in funding that may be yet to emerge.”
GoFundMe, the social fundraising site, has created a landing page that gathers the campaigns on its platform related to Harvey.
The Salvation Army says it is providing food and water to first responders and preparing for massive feeding efforts for residents.
Send Relief and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief says its teams began responding before Harvey made landfall and continues on-the-ground relief work.
Samaritan’s Purse is accepting donations as well as volunteers for Harvey disaster relief for the coming months.
Blood
As well as the American Red Cross, local organizations accepting blood donations are Carter BloodCare and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.
Shelter
Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County coordinates the city’s response to homelessness, serving as “a backbone organization” to groups that offer direct service. It has been providing updated information on shelters with available beds.
Airbnb has set up an urgent accommodations site, where people can open their homes to evacuees from the storm or find shelter themselves. Service fees are waived for those who check in by Sept. 1.
Food
A number of food banks will be aiding the affected region. Consider donating money instead of food, as it allows a food bank to use your donation most efficiently.
Feeding Texas is a statewide nonprofit that works alongside state and federal relief efforts. The organization says it steps in during major disasters to “coordinate with the state and other providers so that relief reaches families quickly and the ‘second disaster’ of an unorganized response is avoided.”
Here is its list of food banks in Texas likely to be affected by Harvey:
Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (Victoria)
Southeast Texas Food Bank (Beaumont)
Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (Pharr)
Brazos Valley Food Bank (Bryan)
Central Texas Food Bank (Austin)
People With Disabilities
Portlight Strategies facilitates projects involving people with disabilities, including post-disaster relief work. The organization says its hotline for Inclusive Disaster Strategies has received urgent requests from people in need.
Kids
The Texas Diaper Bank, based in San Antonio, works to meet the basic needs of vulnerable babies, children with disabilities, and seniors. It focuses on providing partner agencies with diapers and goods.
Animals
The SPCA of Texas is organizing evacuations of pets in Texas (including 123 cats from a shelter in Corpus Christi) and offers resources on pet-friendly housing for evacuees.
Austin Pets Alive! says it has transported more than 235 animals to its shelter. The organization seeks donations, as well as people who can adopt animals. It says it has received so many donated supplies that it’s running out of storage space, so financial donations are what it needs most.
Affordable Home Furnishings Helping Hurricane Harvey Victims
Affordable Home Furnishings is helping out those affected by Hurricane Harvey. All Affordable Home Furnishings stores are collecting non-perishable foods, bottled water, cleaning supplies, baby food, diapers, toiletries and more. Any donation is welcomed and appreciated. Once collected, the goods will be trucked and distributed to those in need. To find the Affordable Home Furnishings nearest you, visit their website at Affordable Home Furnishings – Lafayette.
United Way of Acadiana Mobilizes Flood the Love for Harvey Relief
United Way of Acadiana will be launching Flood the Love, a community donation drive to collect essentials, in response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the consequent flooding across Louisiana.
The community may drop off donations at the United Way of Acadiana warehouse at 215 E. Pinhook Road on Thursday, August 31 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Friday, September 1 from 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Saturday, September 2 from 9 a.m. to noon. Additional donation sites include St. Landry-Evangeline United Way at 311 W. Vine, Opelousas and United Way of Southwest Louisiana at 825 Ryan Street at the former Social Security building next to the United Way. Same hours apply at all drop-off locations.
Items being collected are:
· Bleach – 1 gallon
· Gloves – heavy duty
· Disinfectant cleaner
· Dish liquid
· Trash bags
· Paper dust masks
· Paper towels
· Mosquito repellent
· Mops/brooms
· Sponges
· Water (case ONLY)
· Non-perishable food items
· Toiletries and personal hygiene items in travel sizes
· Baby items (formula, wipes, diapers)
*Locations will not be accepting clothing items.
The community may make monetary donations by one of the following ways:
Text HARVEYFUND to 91999
Visit Donate United Way of Acadiana from any mobile or desktop device
Mail monetary donations to United Way of Acadiana, P.O. Box 52033, Lafayette, LA 70505. Checks made payable to United Way of Acadiana. A memo note may be added, specifying whether the donation should be directed toward Louisiana or Texas. One hundred percent of all contributions will directly help disaster victims.
Drop off monetary donations to United Way of Acadiana, 215 E. Pinhook Rd., Lafayette, LA 70501
Please visit the following sites to give to partnering United Way funds:
United Way of Houston
United Way of Southwest Louisiana
United Way of St Landry – Evangeline
If you are interested in volunteering and you are able to sort and pack supplies, please click this link and sign up as a United Way of Acadiana volunteer: United Way of Acadiana – Volunteer
For more information, please contact Elsa Dimitriadis at 337.706.1230 or [email protected]
Funimation Hurricane Harvey Relief
https://www.crowdrise.com/FunimationHurricaneHarveyRelief
The devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey is enormous and continues to impact people across the Gulf. Funimation is based in Texas, and here we are witnessing neighbors helping neighbors in heroic acts of bravery — we want to help. We don’t know when the storm will let up, but we do know that right now people are without basic needs. Some have lost everything and people will be affected for years to come. Funimation is donating $10,000 towards Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Funimation will also match the first $25,000 raised through this campaign. Contributing at any level matters. Funds will immediately help the organizations and the people on the ground. Join us in helping Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and donate here now or choose a charity below.