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Connecting Through Chaos: How Social Media Platforms Helped Save Lives
By Syed Shahzeb Ayaz Using social media to locate those in need and dispatch volunteers to assist them, Mrs. Gitty Francis (far right), along with her volunteer staff, ran the Hurricane Harvey relief operations of Chabad-Lubavitch, a worldwide Jewish movement with a focus on outreach activities. Photo courtesy of Chabad of Texas Archive. During catastrophes, […]
Activism After Harvey: The Democratic Socialists of America Respond
By Christopher Kessinger Houston’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter came together to help Houstonians after Hurricane Harvey. The volunteers helped out in people’s homes and raised money, which they used for cash cards to help those in need. Photos courtesy of the Houston Democratic Socialists of America Facebook Group. Before Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Houston […]
Beyond Social Justice: Black Lives Matter and Houston Relief Efforts
By Christopher Kessinger Brandi Holmes and Secunda Joseph spoke to Houston History about what motivated them to help those in need during Hurricane Harvey. Photo courtesy of Resilient Houston: Documenting Hurricane Harvey. Activists with Black Lives Matter-Houston and Project Curate, Brandi Holmes and Secunda Joseph formulated their own responses to Hurricane Harvey. The two began […]
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: Hurricane Harvey Through the Eyes of Houstonians
By Andrew Davis The scale of Hurricane Harvey was unfathomable. Between the nationwide volunteer efforts, the overtaxed first responders, the drone footage of I-10 looking like the Mighty Mississippi, and the sense that it affected everyone, the storm’s vast impact remains incomprehensible. Reflecting on those heady days, one of the best ways to understand what […]
Helping Hands and the Challenges of Recovery from Hurricane Harvey
By Sandra Tzul Houstonians found ways to ensure their neighbors got what they needed by cruising neighborhoods with supplies. Photo courtesy of Debbie Z. Harwell. As Houstonians rode out Hurricane Harvey the most devastating storm in Houston’s history recovery weighed heavily on their minds. Rains pounded the area in late August 2017, as residents witnessed […]
Adapting a Plan: The City of Houston’s Emergency Shelter During Hurricane Harvey
By Christina Shibu Houston Fire Department EMTs administer aid to a Hurricane Harvey evacuee in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center shelter. Emergency medical personnel and doctors treated patients for many different issues from dehydration to mental health issues and chronic illnesses. Photo courtesy of Diana J. Rodriguez. One week in the latter […]
Mental Health in the Wake of Hurricane Harvey
By Andrew Tello As recovery from the storm began, Houstonians found solace in each other. Linda Vogel (second from right) assisted many in her Kingwood community through caring and outreach. Photo courtesy of Linda Vogel. When a hurricane strikes, those caught in its path often feel powerless to do little else but weather the storm. […]
Pets and Wildlife During Hurricane Harvey
By Carmen Crandell When his family evacuated, José Manuel Méndez was forced to leave his bigger dog at home due to lack of space in his truck. Fortunately, the dog was safe when Méndez returned for him. Photo courtesy of the Méndez family. Many pet owners love their pets and treat them like family members, […]
Harvey’s Cohabitated Animal Shelter
By Anna Mayzenberg Having found a safe haven, a dog rests on an American Red Cross blanket. The change in policy to allow pets in the shelter was a big step forward in responding to disasters. Photo courtesy of Friends For Life. The first day the George R. Brown Convention Center(GRB) opened as a Hurricane […]
Flood Insurance: A Necessary “Luxury”
By Sean D. Bartell Built in 1956, Eric Dowding’s Braeburn home had never flooded until he hit the trifecta: Memorial Day 2015, Tax Day 2016, and Harvey in 2017. Photo courtesy of Eric Dowding When Hurricane Harvey came, flooding was nothing new to Braeburn resident Eric Dowding. Having lived in Houston with his wife Trang […]