As Harvey brings unprecedented flooding in Texas, Virginians are part of relief efforts underway there. Crews from the state have been deployed to help search and rescue missions in Texas, as water level continue to rise.
Virginia only sends people to help in a disaster when there are specific requests from federal or state officials. Texas has asked for one person to help coordinate volunteers, and FEMA has asked for a team from the Department of Forestry. Search and rescue crews from Fairfax and Virginia Beach are also on their way.
“Everyone wants to help our and all states and localities and volunteer organizations, our hearts go out to those that are impacted,” says Jeff Caldwell with Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management. “In many cases folks want to send aid. But it actually is a logistical challenge.”
Caldwell says the best thing people can do to help is not collect and send supplies, but to send money through reputable charities like the Red Cross.
Virginia’s Red Cross also already has a team of 40 people on site in Texas.
"From every part of Virginia, and we expect that that number is going to rise. As well as volunteers start to rotate out to go back home, we're going to have additional waves of volunteers to replace them,” says Jonathan McNamara of the American Red Cross of Virginia. “We're planning for weeks and months."
Volunteers include nurses and mental health professionals, but the Red Cross says anyone can help.
"And even if you can't deploy you can support our efforts back home because when we have volunteers deployed we still have to meet our mission in Virginia, which is responding to house fires to supporting our own Virginia disasters,” says McNamara.
Another option for those who want to help is giving money. Dollars allow the Red Cross to purchase goods they know are needed, and can minimize the logistical hassle of sorting and distributing.
You can text HARVEY directly to 90999 to give $10 to the Red Cross.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
