On Thursday, August 17th, Tropical Cyclone Nine was headed to the islands of the Caribbean. Tropical Storm watches were in effect from Martinique to the islands of the Grenadines, and was fairly quiet until it started to make its way to the Gulf of Mexico. By August 25th, this no-named cyclone was now Hurricane Harvey and since making landfall in Texas, has wreaked havoc in both Texas and Louisiana.
By now, you have probably seen many photos and heard many stories about this historic hurricane that has broken the national record for rainfall during a single storm. When disaster strikes, we are moved to help our fellow brothers and sisters, so here are some ways to help:
Donate (to organizations based in Texas):
- https://emergency.portal.texas.gov/– Multiple charitable organizations mentioned at the Texas.gov Emergency Portal.
- https://adra.org/emergency-donation-hurricane-harvey/ – A combined effort between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the local Adventist Community Services.
Pray Earnestly:
- Pray for those who have suffered loss in Texas and Louisiana, and those who are helping with relief efforts.
Stay Informed and/or Volunteer:
- Professionals suggest recovery and rebuilding efforts will take a few years in Texas, so stay informed on how to help long-term. One way to do this is to volunteer with these efforts at http://volunteerhouston.org/.
As Our LORD Jesus has warned, disasters will increase in severity and frequency. Let’s continue watching, praying and helping each other.
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References
National Hurricane Center. (2017). Hurricane Harvey Advisory Archives. Retrieved from http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2017/HARVEY.shtml