I though I would share with FTE about Hurricane Harvey in Texas. I was deployed a week ago as a Critical Care Trauma Medic with American Medical Response's Disaster Response Team. As of about 5 hours ago, we finally were able to get get voice cell service as well as net connections. The rains have somewhat stopped and some water is receding. There are still thousands in need of rescue as well as just as many in need of basic necessities ! I have been rotated out for the next 12 hours for rest so I am taking the time to post.
Please....If you can see your way to help in anyway possible, I urge you to do so. These Americans have been stripped of EVERYTHING they have known. They have the wet clothes that they are wearing.
AMR now has over 800 DRT responder's in the area as well as well over 400 vehicles, rotor aircraft and fixed wing aircraft working 24 hours to assist in evacuations and rescue efforts. No contribution or donation could be too small in the effort to assist these victims ! Contact your local Red Cross for information about how to contribute.....Please !

 

Agree with everything except the part about the Red Cross. There are other worthwhile agencies that are involved in the relief effort besides the Red Cross. My suggestion is that everyone should do their own research and donate to the agency of their choice. JMHO.

 

Choose the organization you are comfortable with..but please make that choice.

 

After my first hand experience in Katrina, might I say, the churches were the first in and everything donated gets to the point of need. But unless a specific request came for certain clothes or blankets, don't send that stuff. We had mountains of cloths to deal with after Katrina and no people to even process the stuff so it gets pawed through. Money. Money is what they need and the volunteers at the point of need can get the folks what they need.