Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25, classified at Category Four with predictions of intense precipitation, wind and capacity for destruction. Over the last days of August, a record-breaking 51.88 inches of rain fell in Houston accompanied by high wind speeds, and displacement from flooding forced thousands of people into shelters. Photos and stories of flooding and rescue operations in the Houston area were quickly shared online and by news sources to bring national attention to the losses and efforts there, but the effects extend beyond just this. Estimates of fatalities are not yet complete, and the area faces over 200,000 homes damaged or destroyed, toxin readings in the floodwater, perhaps 100 billion dollars in costs and years of recovery time.
The deep shock of this event had not even started to fade when Hurricane Irma, another Category Four, struck Florida on Sept. 10 after pounding the Caribbean. Evacuation was highly encouraged, and the severity of the storm caused vast power outages and property damages, again setting US records and leaving thousands of people stranded in shelters. Many statistics on this storm have yet to be gathered as access to communities is slowly becoming possible.
There are millions of people who have just started to assess how to start again from nothing. The list of immediate concerns is colossal, and getting kids back in school is one of them. For students elsewhere around the country, this situation prompts an eerie sense of disconnect between going to another day of class and knowing that the same would be a feat for students in Texas and Florida. There is an already-present sense of helplessness that people often feel when they are far from home or relatives, and the hurricanes have compounded that. Support for families or friends dealing with the aftermath can seem diluted by distance.
There are things to be done, though, even for those distant from the wreckage. Donating to hurricane relief is an important way to help (a list of ways to donate is available on the New York Times website for both Harvey and Irma). The monetary cost of recovery is boggling to say the least, and donations are direct assistance. DU is also taking up this effort, and released a statement from the Newsroom with information about how the university is helping Harvey victims. Currently, DU is linking those who wish to donate online to the Greater Houston Community Foundation. This is a simple way for students on campus to contribute to hurricane relief.
Another thing to do is to keep seeking out information. Coverage of the hurricanes in the news and on social media is extensive, and listening to those who need help will better indicate how to provide it. As long as stories about relief efforts, families and Hemingway’s cats continue to be published, they should continue to be read. This is possible from any location, including a college campus in Colorado. There will be no deficit of stories, or need, anytime soon.
Probably the best contribution is personal support for friends and family. The all-day news cycle will soon move on to other topics, but communities won’t stop needing each other. Any time is the right time to reach out to relatives in other states, but now is a particularly good one.
No matter personal proximity to the storms, staying educated, thinking charitably and being there for those who need support are important efforts. These are obvious ways to help, but there are numerous less obvious ways that also matter. This will keep the hurricane victims in the public mind and keep the aid coming. There will be help needed for a long time to come.
