In Hurricane Harvey's Wake
Updated: August 30
The images out of Texas are staggering. Hurricane Harvey has flooded Houston, Galveston, Dickinson, Port Arthur, and other cities in Texas. In many parts of Texas, rain continues to fall.
How to help the victims of Texas flooding
If you need help right now:
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 or the Coast Guard, which has opened extra phone lines.
For a list of shelters, check here.
If you live in Texas and you can help:
Can you volunteer? Volunteer Houston is matching people with opportunities.
Do you have a boat? The Houston Police Department just called off its request for help with water rescues. The city of Port Arthur just issued its own call for help from anyone with a boat.
Can you offer free housing? Airbnb will match you with someone who needs it. (Update: Airbnb has extended its waiver of service fees for these bookings through September 25).
Want to donate blood? The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center had less than a day’s supply available before the hurricane hit and has issued a call for donations.
Wherever you live:
There are many, many donation needs and opportunities. Here are some groups with smaller budgets and outsized impact. In these troubled times, many of these groups are being called upon by community members who don't feel they can safely call police or other government institutions.
In a state where protections for undocumented immigrants are under attack, the community organization RAICES advocates for immigrant children and families, many of whom face the fear of detention and deportation while navigating floodwaters.
The Texas Organizing Project and the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service both have a long track record of making life better for the poorest Texans who will be disproportionately impacted by this disaster. The Texas Organizing Project has set up the justice-focused Hurricane Harvey Community Relief Fund.
Self-Help for African People through Education (SHAPE) Community Center is focused on the needs of Houston's African American community. The Houston chapter of Black Lives Matter is collecting school supplies for Houston public school students.
The Greater Houston Community Foundation has just established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
Team Rubicon deploys veterans to support disaster relief efforts.
ICNA Relief: Muslims for Humanity has organized a Harvey Relief Fund.
Portlight focuses on the needs of people with disabilities in disaster zones, and the Houston-based Living Hope Wheelchair Association is supporting Houston residents with spinal cord injuries.
Feeding Texas, the Houston Food Bank, the Food Bank of Corpus Christi, and the San Antonio Food Bank all work to fight hunger and are being called on to feed lots of people.
Houston's Montrose LGBT Center has established the LGBTQ Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund.
The Houston Transgender Unity Committee and LatinaTransTexas are focused on the needs of trans people in the wake of the storm, some of whom may be denied government support because of discrimination.
The Houston Coalition for the Homeless and The Way Home connect homeless people with shelter.
The Texas Diaper Bank keeps families healthy by providing diapers, wipes, and senior incontinence items (which are not always provided by disaster relief agencies). They're asking for both diaper and monetary donations.
Also, the SPCA of Texas and Houston Humane Society are looking out for four-legged friends.
These most recent events will once again have us talking about climate change. Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services is helping to drive this conversation in Houston and across the state.
Another Gulf is Possible also has a great list focused on a just Hurricane Harvey recovery, which includes more organizations throughout Texas and Louisiana.
*This post is being continuously updated as conditions change. Please send us your tips.
*Thank you Lina Maria Del Castillo, Stephennie Mulder, Renee Hoffman Heath, Kandace Vallejo, and Monique Chavoya for your tips!
