LET'S ALL HELP HOUSTON!

We have all been watching the flood disaster in Houston, and we all know there is more to come. This is a massive event affecting hundreds of thousands of people- but it's more.

Perhaps you remember when Katrina flooded New Orleans. Compare the news from these two events, and you see some amazing things. I have yet to hear of a single incident of looting. Nobody blaming everybody else, refusing to cooperate or work together. Nobody being turned away, no police leaving town. The authorities are welcoming, even asking for volunteer aid instead of turning it away. The government aid has come through fast and without limits or red tape. The endangered people themselves are showing great consideration for one another, and gratitude for those doing their best to help. That is American to the core- what the nation is all about. It's time for us all to help, and we all can.

Even though most of us are not close enough to volunteer in person, we can support the best services that are down there making it happen. In my experience, that starts with the Red Cross, an organization that steps up and moves with lightning speed in disasters of all kinds, from a house fire (they almost beat the firemen coming to ours) to storms like this. All the money you give them goes to the need, not the promotion. This is the real thing, and we can make a difference.

I've just made a $100 donation, something most of us can afford. I would challenge everyone on this board to match it, or beat it and make me look cheap. Your fellow Americans are in genuine need- let's give Houston a hand.

Here's the place to donate: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation

You will be able to specify that your donation goes to the Houston/Harvey relief.
Post it- and challenge others to donate too.

RED CROSS.

 

Awesome that you posted this!

Deserving of a Pin IMO.

 

Great idea!

 

Shared to Facebook.

 

Just to babble a bit, it sure is shaping up to end up requiring many more volunteer teams than Katrina did.

I wish I were physically able to do the heavy lifting.

If Family health problems weren't so bad now, I'd certainly myself, & I encourage those who can, look into perhaps providing transportation, or other on-site help.

 

I'm a thousand miles away, but I know that volunteer help is pouring in, the authorities even sent out a call asking for people with boats to come. Truckloads of food, water and supplies are enroute, but of course with so much more rain coming, the problem will get worse and the need greater before it turns the corner. I suspect that soon, the need for financial support will exceed the need for volunteers, because so many of these people have nothing. The water and power supplies are down, the services stations and many fuel supplies inaccessible, and any grocery stores that haven't flooded have little or no inventory. I doubt if you could find a motel room within 50 miles, so volunteers are already bringing extra fuel for their boats and truck, food both for themselves and for others, and tents and sleeping bags for a place to stay. Long term aid will swing to providing food, water, clothing and shelter, and the essence of doing that will be money. Red Cross is amazingly good at finding and delivering that kind of aid, and has the resources. That is why I suggest donations, directly to them.

People who can help-
Donate to the Red Cross for Houston, here: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation

 

Actually, you make a great point.

 

Several of the local churches from my wife's denomination sent a 35ft uhaul packed solid with everything from sandbags to water and canned food bound for a Houston area church that is serving as a shelter. Should have gotten there today.

 

Awesome!

 

$50 sent yesterday

 

The Red Cross canceled an event at Mar-a-Lago 'cuz Trump. The politically correct heads of the Red Cross can kiss my arse.

I would donate to a different group doing good things in Houston. May I suggest JJ Watt's effort? Click the link and help JJ Watt, whose charitable work goes 100% to those in need in Houston, unlike the Red Cross.

 

I did my thing. While the above mentioned charities are undoubtedly legit and effective, it is important to carefully check out who you give to, plenty of scammers have no qualms about using a crisis like this. They scammed after 9-11 and after Katrina. its not enough to hang up the phone or slam the door either. its also important to report any suspicious 'charitable' drives so that media can cover it and your local and state law enforcement can identify.

 

Sent $500, prayers worth even more.

From the pictures I will say that I hope whatever god hears them helps them

 

If any State cab pick themselves up by the boot straps, it's Texas.
Texas with low State taxes and less regulation regarding sprawl
wants Moi of California to pick up the Texas tab?

How about Texas raise State Taxes, sell State Bonds.
Fix the damage and retrofit that flatland of Houston barely above sea level
with powered drains and possibly designated flood plains.

Would donating $100 matching funds somewhere else, such as this Board, count?
How about crippled seals?

Seriously, my charity is from my hand to theirs. Cuts down the administrative fees.
Waiting for the first Texan to create a gofundme page to restore their home.


More

https://www.yahoo.com/news/houston-drowning-freedom-regulations-193813435.html

Houston Is Drowning—In Its Freedom From Regulations

 

Still and all, donations would be great for the current situation.

 

The comment section of that link provide the best explination of why this idea is a joke at best.

There is not much taht could be done for something like this, lol powered pumps? Dear lord....

 

I do believe that the Red Cross is a pretty good organization I like the Salvation Army based upon their work and their attitude. When we were down sizing from a real house to a condo a couple years should the Salvation Army was the only organization that seemed happy to get some very good furniture and we do not buy from Ikea. I was so pleased with their attitude thatvI even gave them , the crew, a nice tip so they could gave a nice lunch.

 

The owner of the Salvation Army has gotten quite rich off of people's donations.

 

Here's the place to donate: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation

This post was not to tout the Red Cross, or any other particular group- nor was it to initiate a critical review of charities. It was to encourage people to open their hearts to Americans in Houston at a time of great need, and that need is growing dramatically as you read this.

No matter how you choose to help, what avenue you contribute through, actually helping is what is important.
The arguments on this board generally help nobody, and solve no problems or resolve any issues.
Now is a chance to actually make a difference- Time to rise above petty arguments and criticisms and do something that does make that difference.
Open your heart and checkbook, and pitch in.

The one thing that might be interesting to see is which political side is most likely to contribute- the conservatives, or the liberals who say they think more generously. While our politics shouldn't matter when it comes to the need in Houston, it makes me sad to see there are people trying to use disaster as political fodder. Ken Storey, a Florida professor (of sociology no less) at the University of Tampa tweeted that Texas deserved Harvey because they supported Trump. Surely, we are better people that this.

Here's the place to donate: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation

 

Amazed and touched by some people's generosity and good will here - I applaud them.

However, keep in mind that once it is over, the return will be difficult, with the homes being contaminated by dirty water etc. It would be nice to support them at that time too, when the mediatic spotlight is already somewhere else.

 

Wonderful! I thank you- but the real thanks comes in knowing we are making a difference.

It's true- the rebuild will go on for years. There are many forms of assistance that will be available later, in terms of low-interest loans and grants and other steps to ease the burden. The problem is that those take time to get in place and made available, they do not help now. Right now, they need physical help, and volunteers and boats are pouring in. They need food and water and fuel and places to shelter. While much of that comes in material donations, much more will be bought, and that takes money. There is also a medical shortage, they have asked for doctors, nurses and assistance with medical supplies of all kinds- again, lots of costs that will be above the generosity we can expect from the corporate donations, which are very substantial. The fuel situation is particularly important, the boats for example can't do much without it, and that translates to survival for many.

The thing that makes this so important is scale, the problem is so large and unprecedented that it exceeds what emergency plans ever expected and prepared for as worst scenario.
Houston is the 4th largest city in the nation; there are 6.5 million people in the metro Houston area, and the flooding is impacting the entire city- literally a million or more people are directly at risk or in need.

Half of all the Coast Guard helicopters in the nation are in the area now- and they need more of all kinds of rescue vehicles because of the sheer numbers who need rescue assistance. BassPro shops have announced they are donating boats to the need, although I don't know the details on that.

The time to worry about later- is later. The emergency right now is off the charts and still growing; people caught in some conditions are running out of food, water and options, right now. That means they could die of the conditions they are in, or die making desperate attempts to get out of the flood waters on their own, without any safe means.

Any and all of you reading this... please, do what you can, and as soon as possible.

 

I am actually really sad by what is going on in a lot of cases. Especially on a forum like this I have seen a lot of horrible comments/people and know it is because people get to hide behind their computer screen. But trying to put this into politics says A LOT about your character.

I have heard 3 people on MSNBC and 1 on CNN basically use this as an incident to attack the "other sides'" politics, simply disgusting.

This forum has been more disappointing than I thought as well, people like Moi blaming the tax policy in this thread and several others that are even worse in other threads.

If people are going to do so in an attempt to NOT help people during an emergency ir to use it as political capital, I would like to see other drastic drastic measures also taken. If we have citizens who think giving a city/state money in a 1000 year emergency is a waste because they don't agree with their tax policy ..... well that is fine, but I would like to shoot out a proposition that we stop all welfare payments to ANYONE who can work and doesn't.

By Moi's (and many others on the forum) judgement, these people are foolish for the way they spend their time and money and causing HUGE losses of money throughout the country.

From now on I agree, these people who have not prepared for "the end of the world" be it a flood or the "overdraft" message coming up, should take the blame on themselves and be left to die.

Good idea Moi!

 

Trying to!

I have family about 3 hours north of Houston and have been chatting with them on if they think physically coming in to help would be worth it.

At this point however, I think that sending money would be my best bet as I may just get in the way trying to fly in

 

I believe our church is putting something together as well. Texas is showing the country how to respond to a disaster of this kind. Kudos and prayers to all our Lone Star brothers and sisters.

 

I'm broke but if the texas national guard needs me I'm happy to help.