Texas floods may trigger wave of giving, but not all help is actually helpful

As emergency crews continue search-and-rescue efforts in Central Texas, where at least 119 people have died as a result of catastrophic flooding, local officials are asking people to pause before they pitch in to help. The holiday weekend floods have brought the nation’s attention to the banks of the Guadalupe River, known and loved by generations of Texans as a stretch of serpentine paradise nestled into Texas Hill Country.

Many Americans have reached out to help a small community impacted by death and loss. In Kerr County – home to only a little more than 50,000 people – 59 adults and 36 children were killed. 

Too much of the wrong help

As recovery begins, officials urge the public to support relief efforts through coordinated channels. While community members often respond quickly to help, unplanned donations or volunteer efforts can sometimes complicate emergency operations.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Francisco Sanchez, an adjunct professor of emergency management at the University of Houston, advised the public to refrain from rushing in with unsolicited donations or personal aid.

“Do not self-deploy. Do not send food. Do not send water. Do not send clothes,” Sanchez wrote.

After a disaster strikes, generosity often surges. People give with their hearts and sometimes with their closets. While that outpouring of help can reveal the best of humanity, it can also lead to a lesser-known problem: too much of the wrong kind of help.

Sanchez, who previously served as an emergency response coordinator in Texas, emphasized that financial contributions are the most effective way to support disaster relief. Giving money, he noted, “makes the most difference.”

The Guadalupe River — one of the most popular waterways in Texas — was at the center of one of the deadliest floods in the state’s history as rain fell from July 3 to July 4. The nonstop rain caused the river to surge more than 26 feet in less than an hour, according to Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Stretching about 250 miles, the river flows through Central Texas, from Kerr County through Kendall and Comal counties, before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 15 counties and deployed more than 2,100 state responders, along with over 1,100 vehicles, to assist with recovery efforts. 

“There is an extraordinary collaboration to make sure that we address everybody’s concern as quickly as possible,” Abbott said on July 4. 

What experts say really helps

With that level of coordination underway, officials say following donation guidance is critical to avoid disrupting response operations.

In a 2023 article, researchers at the Natural Hazards Center explained how to prevent the so-called “second disaster” caused by an overwhelming influx of donations. They interviewed donors, donation drive organizers and relief coordinators in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and two tornadoes that struck near Oklahoma City in 2013. Their findings revealed a clear disconnect between the public’s desire to help and the actual needs of disaster survivors.

If a community in crisis receives too many donations of one kind, such as diapers, without also receiving more urgent necessities, that community suffers. And once items arrive, someone has to sort, store and distribute them. It often takes time, space and people during a time when resources are already stretched thin.

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the city of Houston received an influx of winter coats from well-meaning, would-be donors that unwittingly bogged down an army of volunteers focused on helping people in a city with an average daily high temperature of 94 degrees during the month of the disaster. 

FEMA encourages donors to give cash rather than goods, enabling relief groups to purchase necessary supplies quickly and efficiently. Anyone looking to donate items is encouraged to give only through trusted organizations and only when specific needs have been identified. Avoid sending unsolicited goods directly to disaster areas, as they can overwhelm response efforts. 

Unsolicited volunteers can have the same effect. On Monday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha provided an update on the strength of the search-and-rescue operation. “We have a ton of resources, equipment, manpower and food,” he said at a press conference. “We do have it under control.”

Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. was even more direct: “We need focused and coordinated volunteers, not random people just showing up and doing what they do,” he told reporters this week. 

Local groups mobilize for recovery

The United Way of Houston has published a list of resources for those affected by the floods, including information on how to volunteer or support local relief efforts. 

• The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund is accepting monetary donations to directly support those impacted.
• You can also send check donations to the Kerrville Area Rebuilding & Recovery Fund.
• Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR), an Austin-based nonprofit that responded over the July 4 weekend, is accepting donations. They’ve deployed boats, rescue teams and search dogs to help find those still missing. 
• To provide goods, time, or other in-kind donations, the Kerrville Salvation Army is the official partner.
• American Red Cross is also accepting online donations. 
• International Medical Corps is providing health services to affected communities.
• Those seeking to help or volunteer can visit Texas Community Recovery.
• Uvalde Foundation for Kids is bringing supplies to flood victims and is also accepting online donations. 

In the midst of such a wide-scale disaster, grief is expected. Several organizations are offering counseling to those impacted by the flooding in Texas, including The Salvation Army, Crisis Response Ministries of Texas and Texas Department of Public Safety Victims Assistance. 

Another way to help first responders and state officials is to report damage to homes and businesses through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool.