On Thursday, August 31, CNBC reported that Hurricane Harvey will likely cost the economy $190 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in our nation’s history. In comparison, Hurricane Katrina required $125 billion to repair all the damage and Superstorm Sandy cost $65 billion.

Areas such as Cedar Bayou, Texas received 51.9 inches of rain in total, a record for the continental United States. An estimated total of 19 trillion gallons of rain fell over southeast Texas, and an additional 5.5 trillion gallons hit Louisiana. From Victoria to Lake Charles, Texans experienced massive flooding that displaced families and destroyed businesses.

You’ve seen the news footage and heard the heartbreaking tales. Now that the skies have cleared and the storm has passed, BarnDoorz and our parent company, GlassCraft, are rolling up our sleeves to help the community recover from this unimaginable catastrophe. With your assistance, Houston can rebuild itself and restore its position as an economic powerhouse and welcoming hometown for everyone.

Give

There are a number of charities working tirelessly to help restore normal life for those in the affected areas. Financial donations to these groups make a huge difference:

• Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
• Houston Food Bank
• Food Bank of Corpus Christi
• United Way of Greater Houston
• Houston Humane Society
• Houston SPCA
• Matthew 25 Ministries
• DirectRelief
• Global Giving

To ensure your contributions reach those most in need, use the Charity Checklist or the Charity Navigator to find an organization.

Gather

Many organizations are in need of goods, ranging from diapers to laundry detergent. Rally your local community to gather the items these nonprofits require to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey:

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
• Texas Diaper Bank
• The Homeless Period Project of Austin
• Houston Food Bank
• San Antonio Humane Society

Please note that you should only donate items that are specifically requested. Giving goods that are not required makes extra work for these already-inundated relief groups. Review the lists provided by each nonprofit to make sure you are gathering what is needed instead of what you have on-hand.

Volunteer

If you are able to pitch in locally, organizations such as Habitat for Humanity are looking for volunteers. Other nonprofits looking for volunteers include:

• All Hands Volunteers
• Team Rubicon
• Best Friends Animal Society
• Samaritan’s Purse International Relief

Resources for Rebuilding

Connect with the Greater Houston Builders Association for assistance rebuilding homes and communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. This organization is providing a variety of resources to those in need.

There are so many ways to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Whether you are fostering displaced pets or hosting a food drive, your efforts make a huge impact in the lives of those that lost so much in the wake of the devastating disaster. No donation is too small, so give what you can to those in and around Houston.