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In Harvey's Wake

How to get (and offer) help after Harvey

Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas Coast and left Houston — the nation's fourth-largest city — grappling with unprecedented flooding. Do you need help? Or do you want to help those in need? Check out these resources.

Evacuees seek shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017.  

In Harvey's Wake

The devastation was swift, and the recovery is far from over. Sign up for our ongoing coverage of Hurricane Harvey's aftermath. 

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It’s been more than a week since Harvey ravaged the Texas Coast and left Houston — the nation's fourth-largest city — grappling with unprecedented flooding. Do you need help? Or do you want to help those in need? Check out the resources below.

If you’re a victim of Hurricane Harvey ...

Shelter and relief

  • Check for open shelters and hotels you can stay in — or see open homes through this Facebook page. You can also camp for free in Texas state parks.

  • Residents of 11 counties may be eligible for D-SNAP, a program that offers short-term food assistance for families impacted by Harvey. See if you're eligible for the program here, and find site locations closest to you at hhs.texas.gov/d-snap.

  • The United Way Helpline at 211 has information on shelters and other forms of assistance.

  • Apply for disaster assistance, and check the status of your application, here. You can also file a personal claim with your insurer.

  • Try the Texas Department of Insurance’s consumer hotline at 1-800-252-3439 for insurance help.

  • Register yourself “safe and well” through this Red Cross list.

  • Follow government guidelines on replacing important documents.

  • If you lost your job because of the hurricane, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Apply here.

  • Check out the Texas Association of Health Plans’ list to see what services your provider is offering.

  • Check out this guide for avoiding fraudulent restoration companies. And check out the Texas Association of Builders’ video on how to hire a qualified contractor to help you rebuild.

  • See the U.S. Small Business Administration’s guide to low-interest, long-term disaster loans. Apply for a loan here. If you have questions, call the SBA’s service center at (800) 659-2955.

  • To report a missing child, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-866-908-9570.

  • Talk to a professional about emotional distress by calling the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or texting “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

  • Need laundry help? Rockport Laundry Chain is a group of volunteers washing clothes and other items for Harvey victims.

Disaster assistance

  • Lost — or found — a pet during the storm? Check here, here, here, and here.
  • FEMA is providing resources for people with disabilities, access and functional needs on its website.
  • Free Tetanus vaccinations are available at select Gulf Coast and Houston area H-E-B stores. See locations here.
  • Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is providing support to Harvey victims who are members of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy Marine Corps.
  • Are you a business owner? The Texas Association of Business has established a hotline to provide resources to business owners affected by the storm. Call 512-637-7714 or see the website.
  • For legal advice, call the State Bar of Texas legal hotline at 800-504-7030 for toll-free answers to basic legal questions in English, Spanish or Vietnamese. If you need a lawyer, call the State Bar’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service at 800-252-9690.
  • SpareFoot is offering free storage for Harvey victims.
  • DriveSavers is offering free data recovery services to people who have lost files due to water damage.
  • Members of the Texas Association of Orthodontists are helping Harvey survivors find volunteer orthodontists to assist in emergency treatment. 
  • Car towed in Harris County? Call 713-308-8580 to locate it.
  • Whole Woman’s Health is providing no-cost abortions to patients affected by Hurricane Harvey.

If you want to help victims of Hurricane Harvey …

Provide shelter and supplies

Make a donation

Give blood

Several hospitals are reporting blood shortages and seeking donations in the wake of the storm. O negative and O positive donations are particularly helpful, but people of all blood types are encouraged to donate.

  • Carter BloodCare is sending donations to Southeast Texas; see where you can donate here. You can also give blood through the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center —  find out more on their website or by calling 210-731-5590 —  and through We Are Blood.
  • Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi — which never lost power — is accepting blood donations as well as financial support.
  • Living outside of Texas? You can still donate blood through the Red Cross.

Volunteer your time

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