Photo: CNN |
The sight of families in the flooded areas of Texas and now Louisiana being rescued in small boats and rafts by volunteers is gratifying. The images of destroyed homes and disrupted lives is depressing. Meanwhile, the storm that continues to drench that part of the country, while it threatens dams and reservoirs, will cost untold billions in recovery. We need to put ourselves in their shoes now.
We linked to the American Red Cross hurricane relief site the other day. Friend of the blog DivaNewYork also suggested another option: HoustonFoodBank.org. They're a local organization that operates with all volunteers, and they work in the evacuation centers and know the city well so they can target assistance where most needed. Please help them out.
BONUS: Charlie Pierce raises the question of whether Houston will be inhabitable due to the chemical leaks from multiple nearby refineries and petrochemical plants. Chilling.