Severe Weather Check-in!

[dark_crystal]

I am suspended from twitter because i was searching all of the tweets saying we should be denied aid (because our Senators voted against Sandy aid) and telling the tweeters "fuck you from Houston"

It seemed like a good way to pass the time but i got reported three tweets in



now i am bored again

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by girl_dee

Speaking of donations, i have researched the Red Cross in the past, and read some very disturbing things, like only 9 cents of every dollar goes to the relief effort. I just want to be sure the funds are being used wisely.

Does anyone have solid information on where folks should donate to? I normally find animal shelters or local agencies to donate to. During Katrina our help came from churches of every denomination and people like Firegal (thank you ) who have no resources to speak of.


Also folks, disasters can cause people to feel completely unlike themselves. Being a survivor and not being able to do anything to change it, is the most helpless feeling in the world. To watch it happen and not be able to do anything is just horrible.

Please be gentle. It can bring out the best and the worst in people.

I gave my money to Portlight

"Portlight Strategies, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1997 to facilitate a variety of projects involving people with disabilities, including post-disaster relief work."

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by dark_crystal

I am suspended from twitter because i was searching all of the tweets saying we should be denied aid (because our Senators voted against Sandy aid) and telling the tweeters "fuck you from Houston"

It seemed like a good way to pass the time but i got reported three tweets in



now i am bored again

I posted a screenshot of my county's very blue election returns and a man has helpfully explained to me that those were presidential returns and not senatorial and therefore I should not assume that my county did not vote for Ted Cruz

Wow thanks

[FireSignFemme]

When situations like this occur I wait a bit before rushing to donate. This because after major disasters the recovery period tends to be long and drawn out. Typically charitable organizations are flooded with donations during and immediately after the crisis but as time wears on, often the assistance only comes trickling in or dries up altogether. I give to organizations that are able to give a good account of where the dollars donated are going and those who are able to prove the majority of the funds they receive are going directly to those in need, rather than mostly to the big wig execs running the show.

There are a lot of charity watch groups that can be found online/researched offline in advance, so when disaster strikes I know where to contribute. It's not a one shot thing. Charities can be well run, budgeted, staffed – trusted one year, and then go bust, turn corrupt or simply fail in their mission due to inexperience despite good intentions or how longstanding the next. If unsure about where to donate/give to (because some years despite good intentions I do neglect to do my research) then I usually contribute to a collection center requesting actual physical items rather than money be donated. I buy disaster relief items when I see them on sale for very little. That way even if I am broke I'm able to do at least a little something to help.

Donations like this tend to be banked. When a disaster strikes they will send relief from existing stock to the hard hit areas. New donations are then used to replenish what has been sent to the area that has currently been hit. That way there will be stock on hand when disaster later hits elsewhere that can be distributed without delay, pause. It's important to do some research in advance to determine what a bank of this type collects, where they donate to, and how. For example if they choose to gift to a well run domestic violence shelter or well rated orphanage, but also give to organizations that discriminate against other populations I care about then I'm not going to donate items, but if all checks out to my satisfaction I will.

Here are some links to charity ranking groups/sites. I haven't gone through each one/all the charities listed on them. These are just examples to show what rating groups do. If suggestions a watchdog group, or recommendations from friends fail to suit, there are many more ranking sites online to help me chose a charity to support, give to, help.

https://www.charitywatch.org/home

https://www.charitynavigator.org/

https://www.consumerreports.org/char...our-donations/

[Bèsame*]

I woke to a break in the rain, to take over much needed meds to Blaze. He is now on Code Grey, evacuating patients.
I was able to join the crowd of people at the grocery store this morning. I need cat food, plus I had taken more food to Blaze from my stash. I'm sitting here with no power going on an hour and listening to the loud roar of a generator downstairs. (Some comfort).

I'm going to take the trash out and charge my phone in my car.

[Lyte]

Wow...those lil f*ckers respond real fast when they wanna! lol

Originally Posted by dark_crystal

I am suspended from twitter because i was searching all of the tweets saying we should be denied aid (because our Senators voted against Sandy aid) and telling the tweeters "fuck you from Houston"

It seemed like a good way to pass the time but i got reported three tweets in



now i am bored again

[justkim]

Hey all, has anyone heard from Degotoga? Haven't seen any posts since 8/23. I sent a message off but haven't heard anything. Be safe Texas peeps.

[*Anya*]

Here are some organizations listed on The New York Times today:

Local Organizations

The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund of Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, which is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation.

Houston Food Bank and the Food Bank of Corpus Christi are asking for donations.

Carter BloodCare covers hospitals in north, central and east Texas. To donate, call 877-571-1000 or text DONATE4LIFE to 444-999.

To help animals suffering from the disaster, visit the Houston Humane Society or the San Antonio Humane Society.

The Texas Diaper Bank in San Antonio is asking for diapers and wipes, which can be dropped off in person or mailed to 5415 Bandera Road, Suite 504, San Antonio, Tex., 78238.

For more options, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends checking with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster for a list of trusted disaster-relief organizations in Texas.

Online-Only Organizations

Airbnb is waiving service fees for those affected by the disaster and checking in between Aug. 23 and Sept. 1, and can guide users in creating a listing where their home is offered to victims free.

GoFundMe has created a page with all of its Harvey-related campaigns, including one started by the country singer Chris Young, who donated $100,000, and another created by the president and chief executive of the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

YouCaring has a fund-raising page set up by J. J. Watt of the Houston Texans with a goal of $1 million. By 6 p.m. Monday it had raised more than $700,000.

GlobalGiving’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund supports local organizations by helping to “meet survivors’ immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products and shelter.” It will also assist with longer-term recovery efforts.

[Zimmeh]

After much stressing about my niece, I heard from her today. She lives in San Antonio and is safe. I'm worried about PinkeeLee, her wife and their child. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this damn storm.

Zimmeh

[Zimmeh]

Apparently twitter couldn't handle the truth!

Zimmeh

Originally Posted by dark_crystal

I am suspended from twitter because i was searching all of the tweets saying we should be denied aid (because our Senators voted against Sandy aid) and telling the tweeters "fuck you from Houston"

It seemed like a good way to pass the time but i got reported three tweets in



now i am bored again

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Zimmeh

After much stressing about my niece, I heard from her today. She lives in San Antonio and is safe. I'm worried about PinkeeLee, her wife and their child. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this damn storm.

Zimmeh

Medusa said she heard from PinkieLee!

Be safe out there, y'all. Don't get bit by gators or snakes, don't get electrocuted by downed lines in the water and don't starve or dehydrate yourself. The rest will come. Take care of keeping yourselves alive and the rest will follow. Much love.

[Esme nha Maire]

With regard to reputable charities that help with disaster relief internationally, my favoured one is Shelterbox: https://www.shelterbox.org/

[firegal]

The news/today really had a staggering comparison. Most folks know Seattle/tacoma area is known for our rain.....well since jan 2017 till now we have gotten year to date 25.28 inches of rain.

Houston has gotten in the last 72 hours 24.58 inches with 24 more inches predicted in the next few days!!!!!

Its unbelieveable...and tragic.

[Zimmeh]

If I was able to help, I would. As a survivor of three hurricanes in 2004, everyone stepped up and helped us in Florida. As a licensed nursing assistant, I would help take care of the injured and elderly.

My heart goes out to everyone in Texas.

Zimmeh

[StillettoDoll]

I did venture out this morning to check out surrounding roads and creeks, so far me and my neighbors doing well. Went to a grocery store near me and had to wait 45 min. just to go inside they are limiting the number of shopper. Watching hundreds of rescues on TV all day long. Lots of coast guard helicopters flying around.
No eggs, milk, bread or bananas any where.

[Kätzchen]

Originally Posted by StillettoDoll

I did venture out this morning to check out surrounding roads and creeks, so far me and my neighbors doing well. Went to a grocery store near me and had to wait 45 min. just to go inside they are limiting the number of shopper. Watching hundreds of rescues on TV all day long. Lots of coast guard helicopters flying around.
No eggs, milk, bread or bananas any where.

That's really good to hear you could get to a grocery store which has supplies of some sort, {{{ StilettoDoll }}}.

I imagine keeping grocery stores supplied is critical right now, due to accessibility issues. Do you have enough clean potable water? What about alternative milk supplies? What about pancake and easy to make breads, providing you've got access to a power grid? Do you have enough candles and matches? Batteries for flashlights or radio??? Do you have any emergency flares (just in case of the unthinkable)?

I'm really glad you and your neighbors are somewhat safe!

And thanks for keeping us posted about your situation, too.

Sending lots of good wishes to you and all the other members in our community who are caught up in this crisis!

PS: Doll? Do you have all your critical documents handy and ready to go, in case you should have to evacuate with little to no notice??? Those items would most likely be very costly to replace. You probably already thought of it, but I thought I'd ask, just in case.

[*Anya*]

JJ Watt's GoFundMe for Houston, just broke 3.25 million in donations 45 minutes ago!

His next goal is 5 million!

He started out with a goal of 200K but people broke that in the first hour that he had set it up.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the costliest weather disaster in US history and cost 125 billion dollars (per The Weather channel). Sandy cost 65 billion in 2012.

There is no way to know how much Harvey will wind up costing, either in dollars or human (and animal) suffering.

I think that no matter how much we can afford to donate (to any charity that we chose) it is sorely needed.

[Bèsame*]

Originally Posted by *Anya*

JJ Watt's GoFundMe for Houston, just broke 3.25 million in donations 45 minutes ago!

His next goal is 5 million!

He started out with a goal of 200K but people broke that in the first hour that he had set it up.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the costliest weather disaster in US history and cost 125 billion dollars (per The Weather channel). Sandy cost 65 billion in 2012.

There is no way to know how much Harvey will wind up costing, either in dollars or human (and animal) suffering.

I think that no matter how much we can afford to donate (to any charity that we chose) it is sorely needed.

That is a true outright message of people coming together and helping those in need!

Perhaps you all will see the "helping people" on the news feed now. The trucks driving towards the water towing boats. The big monster trucks. I've heard the helicopters. I've seen the sun today.

The Brazos river, near me, has yet to crest. A record high tomorrow. I'm safe, and Blaze is still at the hospital. I ventured out to make a donation at an evacuation sight. Some local restaurants are open today, taking the days proceeds to pay their employees.

[~ocean]

Originally Posted by Bèsame*

That is a true outright message of people coming together and helping those in need!

Perhaps you all will see the "helping people" on the news feed now. The trucks driving towards the water towing boats. The big monster trucks. I've heard the helicopters. I've seen the sun today.

The Brazos river, near me, has yet to crest. A record high tomorrow. I'm safe, and Blaze is still at the hospital. I ventured out to make a donation at an evacuation sight. Some local restaurants are open today, taking the days proceeds to pay their employees.

((((((((((((Texans)))))))))))) my heart is broken for all of you, seeing your words of pain and suffering puts a reality to the news. My family is making a point to go to the grocery store daily and add food to the collection trucks. God Bless ~

[homoe]

Has anyone heard from Jess?