How to help Hurricane Harvey victims? How you can aid the disaster relief in Texas

Tens of thousands of people across Texas have been left homeless and without access to food and clean water.

Brock Long of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated as many as 30,000 people are in desperate need of shelter right now.

He said: “FEMA’s going to be there for years. This disaster’s going to be a landmark event.”

President Donald Trump has the full support of the federal government in dealing with the cataclysm.

Visiting the hurricane-hit state he said: “We want to do it better than ever before. This was of epic proportion. Nobody’s ever seen anything like this.”

As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to ravage the Gulf Coast with heavy rainfall and flooding, here is how you can directly help the disaster relief fund.

Make a money donation

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner personally established a Harvey relief fund as part of The Greater Houston Community Foundation.

The foundation accepts tax-deductible donations which are then redistributed to aid those affected by the deadly flooding.

The American Red Cross is also working around the clock in the Gulf Coast to provide much needed aid to the thousands affected by the hurricane.

Monetary donations can be made directly for Harvey victims or for any of the Red Cross humanitarian relief branches. 

GoFundMe, a popular crowdfunding website, has launched its own Direct Impact Fund with a landing page linked on the homepage.

You can also help The Salvation Army National Corp with a donation that will support both the survivors and relief workers in Texas.

Hurricane Harvey victim supportGETTY

Hurricane Harvey: Texas residents caught in the hurricane are in desperate need of help

Donate blood

If you are on the ground in Texas, then you can directly help by donating your blood.

Blood donations can be made at the American Red Cross, as well as the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center and the Carter BloodCare charity.

This disaster’s going to be a landmark event

Brock Long, Federal Emergency Management Agency


On Monday the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center (STBTC) extended all of its opening hours in the San Antonio area.

The STBTC said: “Current blood supplies remain at less than one day’s demand, so the need for donors is especially critical.”

The strain on the medical system has left hospitals in dire need of all blood supplies, especially O negative and O positive blood types.

Donations are usually made at health clinics or mobile blood banks.

Donate clothes and food

A number of food banks in the region are accepting financial donations to provide the food and water needed.

Feeding Texas is coordinating the relief effort with local food banks and charities to distribute resources.

More localised food banks include the Houston Food Bank, the Galveston Food Bank and the Corpus Christi Food Bank.

The Central Texas Food Bank located in Austin is also accepting donations to “provide immediate relief to children, families and older adults who lose access to food and water”.

The Texas Diaper Bank is meanwhile asking people to donate diapers and money to help they youngest and most vulnerable of those affected by Harvey.

Every year the charity distributes over 1.1 million diapers thanks to generous donations.

Hurricane Harvey: Victim shelterGETTY

Victims are in need of shelter, food, clothing, water and resources

Provide shelter

The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston and Harris County is working to house members of the homeless community left without a roof over their head.

The charity itself does not directly accept donations but rather coordinates its efforts with other organisations.

“Monetary donations made to the Coalition from August 26 – September 8, 2017 will be used to help formerly homeless individuals get back into housing,” it explained.

AirBnB has launched its own Hurricane Harvey appeal for people who are in desperate need of shelter and those who can provide a warm place to stay.

Residences listed under the AirBnB appeal are free of charge for anyone who checks in before September 1.

Other ways to help

is urgently calling for toiletries, underwear, blankets and inflatable mattresses. 

Donations can be left at the Hope Family Thrift Store on 51st Street in Austin, or alternatively money can be donated online.

The Texas SPCA is also appealing for donations that will help the organisation save the pets and other animals caught in the flooding.