Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas after making landfall near Corpus Christi on Friday night. The slow-moving storm left behind flooded communities in Houston and other parts of Texas throughout the weekend leaving hundreds without homes and thousands without power. While the initial response on social media was they typical “Pray for Houston” message, some courageous people in neighboring cities have given blood or opened up their homes to provide accommodation for evacuees.
If you would like to really help those affected by the storm, here’s what you can do too.
Point Them To The Nearest Shelter
Here is a FULL list of Houston shelters that are open and taking people in (This list list updated frequently, so keep checking back). Click here for the FULL LIST.
Donate Money Directly On The Ground
Before you donate to a charity, make sure you know where your aid is going. The Center for International Disaster Information recommends checking with a charity monitoring organization like GiveWell, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or the Better Business Bureau before donating.
Make sure your donation is secure by going through an organization’s official website or sending a check in the mail. Charity Navigator says you should never donate over the phone, email or unknown social media pages, as these are easier for scammers to target.
Most charities prefer monetary donations. These are more flexible and cause less of a strain on the charity, allowing them to help more, the CIDI explained.
Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees. Here are a few reputable donation groups:
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross provides emergency