#STOUTShout for Hurricane Heroes
Hurricane Harvey may have bent the Texas coast, but it did not break the Texas spirit. This week we send out a #stoutSHOUT to highlight some of the amazing folks who stepped up to help Texans survive the storm and its aftermath.
Paula DeLaCruz & Texas Search and Rescue
Texas Search and Rescue trains volunteers who are deployed in search-and-rescue operations.
Paula DeLaCruz had been executive director of TXSAR for just five weeks when Harvey hit. Even with her previous 4-year experience in the post-disaster field, DeLaCruz said “Even the former executive director hadn’t seen an event like this. I had no script. My phone rang 24 hours a day for five days straight.”
So far Texas Search and Rescue has rescued and evacuated more than 500 people along the coast and continues to perform search and rescue missions today– Read a TXSAR volunteer’s account of deployment in Harvey.
#stoutSHOUT to Paula and all the TXSAR volunteers for coming to the rescue of people and pets
HEB
From mobile kitchens feeding thousands to engineering water delivery where no one else could get in, Texas grocery chain HEB’s effort was so strong it sparked memes (“I’ll see your FEMA and Red Cross and raise you my Texas grocery store chain.”) HEB Harvey disaster relief so #Strong it sparked memes
Read the amazing inside story of HEB’s herculean Harvey effort to get immediate relief to coastal Texas cities in need and get their stores up and running again to support customers in the long clean up ahead.
#stoutSHOUT to HEB for coming through for Texans– and sending trucks to Florida (outside their market) when Irma hit hard there.
Holly McDaniel – Austin Diaper Bank
Holly McDaniel had only 3 days on the job as as Executive Director of the Austin Diaper Bank when Hurricane Harvey blew into the Gulf. Even with 15 years of non-profit experience, this disaster was unprecedented. She found herself working the phones, getting advice from anyone and everyone about handling the desperate need for supplies, and the huge amount of donations that began flowing through their door.
By the end of the first week after the hurricane hit, her organization had delivered more than 600,000 diapers to shelters for storm victims – more than twice their typical annual amount of 250,000.
#stoutSHOUT to Holly and fellow staffer Lindsey Martinez, as well as all who stepped up with advice and/or donations.
Willie Nelson – Harvey Can’t Mess With Texas Concert
Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Leon Bridges, Lyle Lovett and Edie Brickell & New Bohemians head up “Harvey Can’t Mess With Texas: A Benefit Concert for Hurricane Harvey Relief,” an all-star event and telethon set for September 22 at the Erwin Center.
#stoutSHOUT to Texas icon Willie Nelson, all the musicians and Michael and Susan Dell for starting the Rebuild Texas fund.