How You Can Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Florence

It has been just over a year since Hurricane Harvey, one of the costliest tropical cyclones to date, devastated the coasts of Texas and Louisiana.

Since then, the conditions in Houston, Austin’s neighbor, and other affected cities have improved tremendously. Houston’s economy has grown due to the recovery effort, and most people have gotten back up on their feet. They were able to survive, and now thrive, with the support of millions of people across the United States.

The severity of the recent destruction caused by Category 4 Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas is evident. According to Moody’s Analytics, property damage now ranges between $17 billion and $22 billion, which could rise significantly as the states still endure “historic rainfalls and flooding.” This ranks the storm in the top ten costliest hurricanes ever. More than 40 have lost their lives so far, and that’s if you’re only counting human fatalities. Millions of animals were helplessly abandoned to weather the relentless winds and waters. Many people remain stranded, awaiting rescue. And those that were saved are in critical need of basic supplies.

Photo Cred: http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-good-samaritans-work-to-rescue-ani…

Texas remembers when it was in that position last August. This leaves us wondering what we can do to help the same people that were there when we needed them. If you are physically able to volunteer directly in the Carolinas, that is clearly the best thing to do, but there’s a way that we can make a difference quickly and efficiently while remaining on campus. So, Texans, Longhorns, and Americans, what can you do to give back?

According to Julia Brooks, a researcher with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, the best thing to do is DONATE CASH!

It will be tempting to send clothes, food, water, and other supplies, and sometimes this can be useful, but Brooks claims that this often causes a lot of problems. One issue is that it is hard to tell what is actually needed on the ground in the Carolinas when we’re so far away. They may end up with an overwhelming supply of one resource and a dire need for another. A lot of shipments to North and South Carolina would also back up transportation systems. It would take too much time for first responders to manage and distribute all of the packages coming in. It’s very important for disaster relief efforts to receive funding in order to acquire things the victims actually need.

Photo Cred: https://www.togetherstronger.com/red-cross-financial-assistance-for-hurr…

A few great organizations you can donate to that are directly involved with Hurricane Florence relief:

• American Red Cross

  • https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-florence-donations.html/

• Gleaning for the World

  • Gleaning for the World provides humanitarian efforts with surplus medical and essential supplies.

  • https://gftw.org/hurricane-florence/

• Operation BBQ Relief

  • This organization provides meals to both displaced residents and emergency personnel.

  • https://operationbbqrelief.org/

• GlobalGiving

  • The GlobalGiving fund will provide victims with food, water, shelter, fuel, and hygiene products.

  • https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/hurricane-florence-relief-fund/?rf=homepage

Just remember that whatever amount you choose to give WILL make a difference, whether it’s 50 cents or a million dollars.

Photo Cred: http://salvationarmyalm.org/birmingham/disaster-relief/

What starts here really can change the world! Let’s start in the Carolinas.

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