Harvey

by Drewin allies, Homeon Posted on

Most of the info on this page is copied from the Harvey response page at Another Gulf Is Possible. Their page is updated more frequently – so click here for the most up to date list of what’s needed and what to do.

When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana 12 years ago, it seared into the mind of America a simple fact about the climate crisis: Climate Change is racist.

Here’s what I mean: Even as the impacts of climate change accelerate all around us with devastating impacts (this was, for example, the third once in 500 year storm to hit Houston in the last 3 years) they always hit the poor, communities of color, and the disenfranchised first and worst. There’s a reason that the people who lived in New Orleans’ lower ninth ward ward were mostly black, and the worst hit by Katrina’s flooding 12 years ago. There’s a reason why the people living next to flooded chemical plants and refineries that are leaking and spewing toxic gasses are mostly Latino and black. And there’s a reason that climate impacts like rising sea levels, more severe storms, and increased rainfall and flooding disproportionately  impact people in the global south, and poor and minority communities here at home in America.

That reason, as eloquently described by Wen Stephenson in the nation this week, is that:

Our unfolding climate catastrophe … is rooted in social and economic inequalities that render most vulnerable the most marginalized and powerless. …[B]oth causes and deadly effects, are inescapably political—as much about our democracy as about the changes wrought upon our atmosphere. (Note to those in the media: It’s not “politicizing” a tragedy to point out that the causes of the tragedy, and responses to it, are deeply political.)

Saying so is fine and necessary. But understanding that Harvey, and all climate chaos, cary a fundamental racial and political bias is also necessary to how we respond. During and After Katrina, the Red Cross drove empty trucks around to make it look like they were busy, and raised millions of dollars that were never spent on the people who needed it most. Its just one of several examples of how that charity, in particular, mis-manages donations. Just as important, after Katrina had passed, New Orleans was gentrified, it’s school districts privatized, and it’s reconstruction benefited many of the same developers, oil, and gas companies that made a climate-fueled super storm such a disaster for the city in the first place.

Which is why we’re asking you not to give to the Red Cross and other big charities in response to Harvey. Instead, we’re directing you to a consortium of local, frontline groups fighting climate change and environmental justice fights in and around the gulf region. Our goal is a #AJustHarveyRecovery – not just a new beginning for people’s who’s homes are flooded and who lost loved ones in the storm; But a new start for the region that shows Another Gulf Is Possible.

So here’s a full list from Our friends. If you’re not sure how to split your donation over these groups, or only have a minute – you may also donate on this page we setup, and we’ll divide 100% of the donations evenly between TEJAS and the L’eau Est La Vie camp‘s pages, since we’ve worked with both groups in the past.

Gulf South Regional Resource & Support Mobilization

This webpage is being continually updated and is serving as a central information source for frontline-to-frontline direct resource & support mobilization. 

WHERE TO DONATE MONEY

RECOVERY SUPPLIES NEEDED

PERSONAL SUPPLIES

  • Basic toiletries – toothbrushes, toothpaste, period products (diva cups, pads, tampons etc), hair care, soap, lotion, talcum powder
  • Sleeping bags, pillows, blankets
  • Baby formula and baby food (MREs do not meet nutritional needs of infants), breast pumps, bottles, bottled water, diapers (cloth or disposable), carriers, strollers, car seats
  • Children’s toys, games, puzzles, cards, books
  • Water
  • Nonperishable, high nutrient density food
  • New, seasonally appropriate clothes of all sizes (for humid, hot weather)
  • Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, catheters, alcohol wipes, and “diapers” for adults/larger kids with disabilities

CLEAN UP SUPPLIES

  • Storage – plastic tubs, contractor bags, boxes, buckets, tarps, duct tape
  • Work tools – especially for demolition: hammers, axes, shovels, crowbars, tarps, screwdrivers, drills, box cutters and extra blades, crowbars, screwdrivers, drills, wheelbarrows, wire cutters, ladders
  • Cleaning supplies – heavy duty respirator masks (n95 or better), knee high rubber/rain boots, rubber gloves and thick work gloves, bleach, mops, brooms, rakes, garbage bags (especially large contractor bags), sponges, towels, heavy duty paper towels
  • Mold remediation supplies – borax, tea tree oil or vinegar are herbal products that eliminate black mold, as well as commercial “mold control”/other concrobium/ specifically mold-remediation products which tend to go quickly in affected sites.

HEALTH AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES

  • Dehumidifiers, fans, flashlights, lanterns – especially solar powered
  • Solar power chargers, long-lasting/heavy duty/water-resistant power sticks, batteries of all kinds
  • Health/wellness supplies – herbal medicines/tinctures, vitamins, mosquito repellent, bandages (especially the waterproof kinds, NexCare is a good brand), gauze, medical tape (plastic and paper), medical gloves, antiseptic cleaners, pain relief, sanitizer, tweezers, muscle pain relief balms/ointments, ice packs
  • Dog food and emergency pet supplies like leashes, flea medicine
  • Large coolers, large cooler bags
  • Relevant gift cards: Home Depot, Lowes, Target, IKEA, Walgreen’s, H.E.B.

FRONTLINE DONATION DRIVE DROPOFF LOCATIONS

AIMING FOR DELIVERY ON FRIDAY 9/1

Donation Drop-Off – Monday 8/28 – Thursday 8/31 

NEW ORLEANS, LA AND SURROUNDING AREA

  • Mid-City and Gentilly
    • 3449 Roger Williams Street, 70119 – private home
      • anytime
      • Knock on door, leave donations on porch if not home/no answer
  • Bywater and Marigny
    • 609 St. Ferdinand Street, 70117- Catapult art space
      • Wednesday 12-8pm and Thursday 12-4pm
      • Blue metal warehouse next door to hot pink mosaic building; doors will be open
    • 1305 Alvar Street, 70117– private home
      • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am – 9pm
      • Knock on front door
  • Uptown
    • 5206 Magazine Street, 70115 – Rank and File Books
      • call/text 504-239-7140 for drop-off

BATON ROUGE, LA AND SURROUNDING AREA

  • Garden District and Mid-City
    • 5700 Florida Blvd, Suite 110 (Florida Blvd. side of Mid City tower) – Harvest Moon Listening Room
      • Contact: Jason Hall
    • 2228 Cherokee Street, 70806 – private home
      • Leave donations on screened porch
    • 7735 N Jefferson Place Cir Apt D, 70809 – private home
      • Text 225-588-1175 for dropoff
  • Mutual Aid Disaster Relief working on locating more drop off locations

LAFAYETTE, LA AND SURROUNDING AREA

  • Breaux Bridge
    • 1545 Anse Broussard Hwy, 70517
      • Call owners Malcolm and Jodie Orgero at 337-332-4740
  • Lafayette
    • Working on locating drop off location
  • Rayne
    • Working on locating drop off location

MOBILE, AL AND SURROUNDING AREA

  • Coden
    • Coastal Response Center (https://www.facebook.com/CoastalResponseCenter/) at 7385 Hwy 188, Coden, Alabama has three trucks and three trailers that they will be filling to send to the Houston area, and they’re accepting goods for the delivery at these times this week:
      • 9am-12pm, 3pm-7pm & 7pm-10pm Tuesday
      • 9am-12pm & 3pm-7pm Wednesday
      • 9am-12pm Thursday
    • 7-10pm Tuesday will be their normal monthly fundraising concert ($6 at the door including refreshments & music) and any donors will receive a ticket for a door prize.
    • They are loading Thursday afternoon and evening and should be prepared to leave early Friday morning.

AUSTIN, TX AND SURROUNDING AREA

LOCAL FRONTLINE INFO, SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

MORE SOURCES FOR INFO

Immediate response efforts:

Other sources for information:

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD REPORTING

TEXAS

  • Pipeline, or oil and gas related emergency
  • Air emissions *note: suspension of air quality rules and air quality monitors in effect*
    • TCEQ: 1-888-777-3186,
      • Main Number: 877-228-5740
      • Emergency Number:  1-844-773-0305

LOUISIANA

  • Pipeline, or oil and gas related emergency
  • Debris
    • LDEQ Debris Hotline: 225-364-7901

NATIONAL

  • EPA (National Response Center )
    • 1-800-424-8802

Please contact jayeesha@gmail.com if you would like to be shared on the collaborative Google document serving as the central source for content here.