Hurricane Harvey Update

from Saint Paul's Emergency Management Team...

​The situation in the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast area continues to worsen.  The emergency response phase is continuing.
 

• There are now several levy breaches that are endangering more communities.
• Citizen first-responders/good Samaritan “rescues”  continue.
• The President and First Lady are visiting Texas today.  They are not going to the hardest hit areas to avoid the additional drain on resources that come with a POTUS visit. They are meeting with Governor Abbott of TX and other state and federal officials.  The entirety of the TX National Guard has been activated.  More helicopters and high water vehicles are being deployed for evacuations.  Many shelters are nearing or exceeding capacity.  The Emergency Housing mission will be a very significant one, then the transitional housing during recovery will also be a major part in the recovery phase of this event.
• Tropical Storm Harvey is positioned offshore of the Houston/Galveston area.  It is expected to come ashore once again sometime tomorrow morning near the border with Louisiana.
• There is an expected 10-15 inches more of rainfall yet to come for the SE TX area and SW LA area.  See the attached graphic.
• How to help:
  • Do NOT send clothing and household items.  (The picture included of the boy with a dress shoe is not off base.  I’ve been a part of numerous disasters where donated goods took precious resources away from management of the incident and ended up in a landfill.  The agencies helping need cash, not stuff.)
  • Please give cash.
  • Go to NVOAD.org. 
  • There you will find an incredible list of national voluntary agencies active in disaster (VOAD).
  • Donate there - they are all involved in relief.
• There are currently NO OUTSTANDING Resource requests via the national mutual aid system that we have been made aware of by MN DPS as of 1:30 pm today.