Harvey’s victims need whatever aid and comfort we can give

There are countless people in southeast Texas still helpless in the face of the continuing disaster that is hurricane Harvey and its aftermath, and millions of Americans all over the rest of the country who probably feel helpless to provide any meaningful help in this catastrophe. But we aren’t.

People along the Texas Gulf coast, in the Houston area and across the rest of Harvey’s path need food, blood, clean water, financial help, medical supplies and volunteers.

As reported Monday by staff writer Scott Berson, there are plenty of ways we can provide significant aid to the people affected by the hurricane’s destruction and by the flooding that is not expected to abate for days at least.

Berson’s report cites blood donations to the Red Cross, and the disaster recovery specialist All Hands, as well as the Salvation Army. These are familiar and dependable organizations with a proven record of humanitarian relief.

You can no doubt get information on other ways to help from other legitimate area charitable organizations, as well as through our various area faith communities. If you know, and are in contact with, people in or near the affected areas who know of other kinds of help needed and how we can provide it, spread the word. As reported Monday, the Houston Press provides a roster of disaster area food banks.

Animal lovers are no doubt acutely aware that human beings aren’t the only ones who suffer from natural disasters; the Houston Humane Society website reports residents with “hundreds of animals seeking care at our facility,” which is overwhelmed with a skeleton staff due to the flooding. Donations can also be made through the SPCA.

Sadly, the same large-scale tragedies that bring out the best in millions of people also bring out the worst in the worst among us. Along with the generous donations and the tireless volunteers will come (no doubt have already come) the usual quota of scammers and profiteers — the types who load up truckloads of ice and drinking water for sale to desperate people for $20 a bag or $10 a gallon.

And people who smash out storefront windows aren’t the only kinds of looters — others use telephones and the Internet. Money magazine reports that amid an outpouring of financial donations and supplies that officials say is “beyond anything experienced,” the usual online predators are lurking and moving in. (One social media post, Money reports, provides a phone number that is supposedly for the National Guard and is actually for an insurance company.)

As a defense against such scams, Money reports, GoFundMe has put together a coordinated multi-link page for legitimate Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

The magnitude of the devastation in Texas won’t be known for days, probably weeks yet. Nor will the magnitude of Americans’ capacity for compassion and generosity in the face of it. But the early signs are that it is tremendous.

This story was originally published August 28, 2017 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Harvey’s victims need whatever aid and comfort we can give."