It’s in our nature as nurses to want to help during time of disaster. When asked, “Why do you want to be a nurse?”, most of us would respond with, “To help people.”
In some ways, disaster is our call to arms.
When Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf Coast the nurse in all of us immediately wanted to know HOW can we help. Here are 7 ways that you can quickly help . . . but first a few facts:
- 10-15 hospitals and nursing homes have been evacuated as of 8/27/2017
- 14 deaths have been reported as of 8/28/2017
- 30,000 people are in shelters
- 56,000 calls to 911
7 Ways Nurses Can Help With Hurricane Harvey
#HurricaneHarvey causes havoc in Texas https://t.co/BNtqQya7MR pic.twitter.com/M6xvNwCLQK
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 29, 2017
Google – Partner Charities
By simply Googling “Hurricane Harvey” you can find a simple form to donate as little as $1 or as much as you would like. They’ve also created an FAQ to help you know how the money will be used.
Red Cross
The Red Cross has created a simple form to donate as much or as little money as possible to help with relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey. You can also help by donating blood to the Red Cross or other blood donation services. This is free and easy to do. With cleanup and rescue efforts just starting, blood will be needed desperately.
Texas Volunteer Registry
The TDVR will allow you to register with a group that is already an established responder organization. If you would like to come to Texas as a nurse to help with the relief efforts this is the place to register.
To help with this, the Texas BON is implementing a disaster licensing procedure to respond to this declared disaster. The BON is not soliciting volunteers. Nurses wishing to volunteer may register with the Texas Department of State Health Services. Essentially, what this means is that the BON will expedite temporary licenses by endorsement applications. Nurses from Compact states with current multistate compact licenses need not apply and may come to Texas to practice without application.
AirBNB
Airbnb has set up an urgent accommodations site, you can go on the site and offer your home to those affected by the storm. This would be a great way to help if you live in or around the Gulf Coast.
Texas Diaper Bank
The Texas Diaper Bank focuses on providing diapers and basic need items to vulnerable children and seniors and those with disabilities. If you are a peds nurse or nurse with children this might be a great organization to donate.
The SPCA of Texas
If you are an animal lover, the SPCA of Texas is a wonderful organization that is currently organization rescues of animals in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
Feeding Texas
In the coming days, weeks, and months following the storm, many individuals will be left without food. Feeding Texas works with locale and federal charities to “coordinate with the state and other providers so that relief reaches families quickly and the ‘second disaster’ of an unorganized response is avoided.”
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