As you are most likely well aware, this past week Hurricane Harvey hit Texas as a category 4 hurricane. Winds were to 130 miles per hour and a whopping 20 trillion gallons of rain fell over Texas.
Unfortunately, the death toll has risen to 44 and more calamaties are expected. Health problems are expected to rise in Texas as the contaminated flood water pose a serious threat. The polluted water can cause an outbreak of major health diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and skin rashes.
According to the National Weather Service, the gruesome impacts of Hurricane Harvey are beyond anything experienced before in the earlier disasters.
Help Out!
With over 185,149 destroyed homes and some areas with 51" of standing water - the residents of Houston and surrounding areas need all the help they can get! There are several ways you can reach out to those in need of your assistance.
- Donate $ – You can donate a $1 or more to the Red Cross by texting HARVEY to 90999 or by visiting the Red Cross Hurricane Harvey website. You can also donate funds to The Salvation Army by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
- Provide Required Items – If you live in Texas, you can drop off donations like baby food, diapers, plus sized clothing, medical supplies, wheelchairs and more. The BBVA Compass Stadium is no longer accepting donations, thanks to the generosity in Texas. However you can see a comprehensive list of more drop-off centers here.
- Volunteer – If your schedule allows, go volunteer for Red Cross to help clean out the disaster areas. Volunteers are still needed! Apply here: http://www.redcross.org/volunteer-interest-form
Whatever you do, just remember to stay safe! When donating money, avoid being scammed by donating directly to well-known organizations. If you are going to be in the disaster area, use a coverall, like the Dupont TY122S to keep contaminants from infecting you. A respirator is also advisable so as not to inhale contaminants.
The people in Houston need your help, one way or another. If none of the above options are feasible to you, keep the disaster victims in your hopes and prayers.