Victims helping victims. Photo: CNN
Hurricane Harvey is a disaster of enormous proportions. The flooding is immense: some 40,000 homes have been destroyed, more than a dozen former industrial sites, which are heavily contaminated with old industrial waste were damaged, and the death toll has risen to fifty. Over a million cars have been destroyed, and the way of life for hundreds of thousands of people has been dramatically changed.
A few good things have come from the disaster, though. The outpouring of support from people all over the country has been heartwarming to watch. Strangers are risking their own lives to risk strangers. Mattress stores are opening their doors to people with no bed to sleep in. Hell, Donald Trump even pledged $1 million of his own money to help victims, although he hasn’t actually signed the check yet.
Here are five ways you can help out:
The Red Cross is active on the ground in Texas. They’ve opened shelters, they’re sending supplies, and volunteers are putting themselves in danger to help the victims. Click on the link above or simply test HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10.
2. Donate to Red Cross through Apple through iTunes.
Apple set up a donation program to the Red Cross through iTunes. Simply click on the amount you want to give, and Apple will send 100% of it to them.
3. Donate to Austin Pets Alive.
There have been horrible images shared around the internet of pets that were left tied up while the family fled. Austin Pets Alive showed up on the scene and took in every single stray they could find. So far, nearly 2,000 lost animals have been put in safe care in Austin, but it’s just a temporary shelter. They need all the help they can get.
4. Donate to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
Sylvester Turner, the Mayor of Houston, set up the donation fund through the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
5. Donate to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center.
After Hurricane Harvey struck, blood drives from Corpus Christi to Houston were canceled. Donation stations were closed because of the damage. Now, blood and tissue centers from across the US are sending blood, but they need more.
