Hurricane Harvey coming at Texas

Susan1 said:
Watching MSNBC - boats and boats of people being rescued now. This is SO unreal.
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It breaks my heart to see what is happening there. :( I wish I could go there as a volunteer but I have no skills and I don't know if the airports are even open.

One of my coworkers is from College Station, Tx (about 100 miles east of Austin). He had planned on going there for a vacation (see family) this Thursday but now he is not sure if he can, because he has to go through Hobby airport in Houston. I guess he can always fly into Austin and drive, but he is not sure of the road conditions. I think he is being wise in not rushing into it.

Poor Houston! It's going to take them many years to recover.

Here is worse news:
Levee south of Houston was breached. I am no expert but I remember reading something similar during Katrina.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/29/us/texas-harvey-latest/index.html

More rain coming, some in W. Louisiana. Simone411/Angie, please be safe and keep in touch.
 
One of my nephews has lost his house due the flooding --had to be rescued yesterday by boat, along with 10 family members of his wife. Its just all so overwhelming for him and tens of thousands of others.

Vash, my brother lives in Austin and he's trying to get to Houston to help above nephew and can't so your coworker might want to double check before making any plans to fly there.
 
Catherine M said:
One of my nephews has lost his house due the flooding --had to be rescued yesterday by boat, along with 10 family members of his wife. Its just all so overwhelming for him and tens of thousands of others.

Vash, my brother lives in Austin and he's trying to get Houston to help above nephew and can't so your coworker might want to double check before making any plans to fly there.
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Sorry about your nephew's experience. I hope they all are safe now.

I am pretty sure my coworker is not going to Tx at this time, given the situation.
 
skatesindreams said:
The Houston Chronicle's message to Trump:
http://www.chron.com/opinion/editor...t-must-get-to-know-Houston-offer-12114155.php

Analysis:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/29/opinions/its-too-soon-for-trump-to-go-to-texas-psaki/index.html
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That last paragraph and last sentence in the Houston Chronicles article concerns me because I have no confidence in DT to truly understand the magnitude of this situation. It's easy to read a TelePrompter. He needs to give up on that pipe dream of Mexico paying for the wall. These cities need funds to protect themselves from future disasters. I am not sure he understands the priorities.
 
Vash01 said:
That last paragraph and last sentence in the Houston Chronicles article concerns me because I have no confidence in DT to truly understand the magnitude of this situation. It's easy to read a TelePrompter. He needs to give up on that pipe dream of Mexico paying for the wall. These cities need funds to protect themselves from future disasters. I am not sure he understands the priorities.
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I think he doesn't have a clue. Folks, this is the new reality of climate change. Storms are going to be stronger and more frequent with resulting appalling devastation in the coming years. What we are seeing in Houston has already been visited upon in countries in central America as well as the Indian and Asian continents. Look at the recent hits on Vanuatu and the Philippines. These storms have been off the charts. I think Americans will now see what the ramifications are now that it finally has come to the homeland.

...The previous record for total rainfall during a tropical cyclone
has been broken...

A preliminary report from one Texas rain gauge has broken the Texas
tropical cyclone rainfall record. Southeast of Houston, Mary`s Creek
at Winding Road reported 49.20 inches in a time period ranging from
12:00 AM CDT August 25 to 9:20 AM CDT August 29. This total is
higher than the previous record of 48 inches set during tropical
cyclone Amelia in 1978 at Medina, Texas. This is a preliminary
report and could potentially increase.
 
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I read that Houston's airports are going to open on Thursday. I am wondering if they can use an unskilled volunteer like me? I am not a doctor or nurse, and I can't row a boat. I am actually afraid of water, though I know how to swim. May be they need someone to hand out blankets, food, etc.at the shelters? I don't want to become a liability there, but I am wondering how I can help. It's not enough to send money. I have a three day weekend (Labor day), which means about 1 full day of volunteer work. I have never done anything like this before.

....or should I just avoid the area? There is still the possibility of the storm making a U turn.
 
Vash01 said:
I read that Houston's airports are going to open on Thursday. I am wondering if they can use an unskilled volunteer like me? I am not a doctor or nurse, and I can't row a boat. I am actually afraid of water, though I know how to swim. May be they need someone to hand out blankets, food, etc.at the shelters? I don't want to become a liability there, but I am wondering how I can help. It's not enough to send money. I have a three day weekend (Labor day), which means about 1 full day of volunteer work. I have never done anything like this before.

....or should I just avoid the area? There is still the possibility of the storm making a U turn.
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You might want to check to see if there are lists of types of volunteers that are needed. If you don't have any of the skill sets it would be best not to go.

I spent 3 years in College Station. In fact, 47 years ago today I flew into Houston for the drive to College Station to finish my degree at Texas A&M.
 
@Vash01 it sounds like they are most in need of people with boats and vehicles that can withstand high water (i.e. Humvees and such) to rescue people. They likely have plenty of locals to staff shelters - right now, the challenge is to get food and supplies to them, but I've seen/read that relief convoys are headed to the area. Donating money is probably the most useful thing right now. If you love animals, you may want to contact your local animal shelter to see if they expect to take in rescued animals from Houston - they may need supplies, or may need people to foster/adopt animals currently in their shelter so they can take in and care for the rescued ones.
 
Vash01 said:
I read that Houston's airports are going to open on Thursday. I am wondering if they can use an unskilled volunteer like me? I am not a doctor or nurse, and I can't row a boat. I am actually afraid of water, though I know how to swim. May be they need someone to hand out blankets, food, etc.at the shelters? I don't want to become a liability there, but I am wondering how I can help. It's not enough to send money. I have a three day weekend (Labor day), which means about 1 full day of volunteer work. I have never done anything like this before.

....or should I just avoid the area? There is still the possibility of the storm making a U turn.
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That's very sweet but I'm going to say at this point, you probably are going to be turned away. Shelters are being run by the Red Cross and they are VERY strict about who can volunteer, due to liability issues. During the first chaotic days, there were shelters where just regular evacuees were running things but now that it has been a few days, you probably aren't getting in unless you have a Red Cross credential.

BUT there will be TONS of opportunities to come later, once the "rebuilding" stage begins. After Katrina, tens of thousands of people came to help rebuild. We couldn't have done it without them. Most were faith based---the Mennonites were AMAZING carpenters that did wonders in my dad's neighborhood. But others were secular groups like Habitat for Humanity. And you don't have to young and fit to join in or know anything about carpentry. Anyone can pitch in and help around a site.
 
I'm sitting in Ohio during a normal thunderstorm (lightning and thunder is gone again) and I'm a nervous wreck! Geez. I always worry about the power going out. I lost power for three days after Ike came up this way. I would be absolutely useless in a real emergency/disaster. Those people in Texas are amazing.
 
skatesindreams said:
This may be helpful:

"What Houston needs; and what it doesn't"
Here are the supplies Houston needs http://cnn.it/2vpijr3
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I saw this article and I am wondering - do these items are to be shipped to Houston or can they use the money to buy them there? I think the latter may not be an option, with many places including stores flooded and merchandise spoiled.
 
Could you contribute to one of the organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) that are already assembling these supplies; or, contact your local TV station, to see if there are other groups near you which would give you a more "direct" connection with Texas relief efforts.
 
There's something else I'm concerned about regarding what I saw on the Weather Channel today and yesterday. One of the meteorologists was commenting about bacteria being in those flood waters in Houston. He was very pertinent regarding people to please not go barefooted when wading through those waters because debris could possibly cut their feet, and that is one of the ways the bacteria enters the body. One of the most dangerous of the bacteria is Streptococcal Group A Necrotizing Fasciitis. This is the flesh-eating bacteria that nearly killed me and it is in the lakes, rivers and the warm waters of the Gulf.

Even if the people and victims don't have any cuts on their feet, the bacteria can also enter any small cut that's anywhere on the body. So it's more than just the people losing their homes and possessions because of this flood. They now have to worry about deadly bacteria that's in the flood waters. <3
 
I've got three recommendations on helping based on my experiences with Katrina if you are not local:

1. find a charity that will be directly helping families in need

2. Find a local church/club to you that is organizing a drive for needed items/funds; all during the aftermath of Katrina, tons of supplies were being shipped down by groups from all over north america.

3. Look for a local Houston group doing aid work. A college friend who is high and dry is asking friends to send gift cards to her church relief organization to mega box stores like Target, Sams Club, HEB and they will be distributing them to families in need in the coming weeks. Thats what I plan to do, besides helping my nephew with his rebuilding.
 
I was watching CNN around 1:00 today, just curious to see how our Mr. President was going to handle himself, and after he walked down the airplane stairs but before he got to a meeting, a reporter approached a woman with a small daughter and said something like, how's it going with this cute young thing, and the woman absolutely, positively blasted her and said something like how do you have the gall to interview me as if to say let's just see how these crazies are doing, instead why don't you come and ask what you can do for me and us, what you can give us to help, (basically she called her) you idiot.

Unfortunately, the anchorman jumped in and said some drivel, like it looks like you have an upset customer there. So, we will never see a repeat, but it happened, just gross reporting. The poor woman sounded really desperate and at the end of her rope, and good for her for calling it like it is.

I agree the best way to help immediately is with $$$, and I can't figure out to whom or what organizations is best. I want to give help for food, water and dry goods, for diapers (apparently they are not being purchased, so give separately here), and for pet dogs and cats. Let me know if anyone has ideas. Help with rebuilding and refurnishing will be needed later.

Added later: Here is the story from CNN as reported by a newspaper, hope I can post:

http://nypost.com/2017/08/29/harvey-victim-with-freezing-kid-curses-out-cnn-reporter/
 
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Earlier today, the Red Cross set up a shelter in Bossier City that opened around 4.pm.
Red Cross volunteers opening shelter in Elm Grove
My brother just called me to let me know that he saw 15 Continental Trailways buses headed north on I-49 while he was heading south from work going home.

I also heard on the news today that the Red Cross will be opening up shelters in Shreveport, too.
 
Catherine M said:
I've got three recommendations on helping based on my experiences with Katrina if you are not local:

1. find a charity that will be directly helping families in need
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Check your local television station! On the news today, they had a story of the Dayton Food Bank collecting donations of water. They are going to drive a semi full down in a couple of days. And the city of Tipp City has a list on their website of things to donate (water, clothes, etc.) that they will be taking down there. They had three flatbed type trucks lined up. You could donate to something like that or even volunteer wherever they are loading things in the trucks.
 
skatesindreams said:
Could you contribute to one of the organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) that are already assembling these supplies; or, contact your local TV station, to see if there are other groups near you which would give you a more "direct" connection with Texas relief efforts.
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I donate through United Methodist Committee on Relief - UMCOR because I know by discipline 100% of my contributions go to the relief efforts.
http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/About-Us
 
skatesindreams said:
Could you contribute to one of the organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) that are already assembling these supplies; or, contact your local TV station, to see if there are other groups near you which would give you a more "direct" connection with Texas relief efforts.
Click to expand...

I have already contributed to the Red Cross and an organization called Global.... (I forgot), but I feel so inadequate. I wish I could do more.
 
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