Operation USA to Aid Recovery Efforts Following Hurricane Harvey
Los Angeles, Calif. (PRWEB) August 25, 2017 -- Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based international relief agency, today announced plans to assess damage and deliver aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The agency will deliver both financial and in-kind recovery aid as needed to affected communities, and will rely on long-standing partners in the area to facilitate the distribution of aid.
Hurricane Harvey—which many experts say will be the most catastrophic hurricane to hit the United States since 2005—is expected to make landfall in Texas early Saturday as a Category 3 storm. Forecasts show heavy, concentrated rainfall and flash flooding as the surge stalls over the state’s southeastern coast through the weekend. Winds are expected to reach more than 110 miles per hour as areas of the state receive up to 35 inches of rain, causing flooding.
As of Friday morning, authorities were working rapidly to prepare for the approaching storm. Governor Greg Abbott announced a state of disaster for thirty coastal counties on Wednesday, while many residents piled sandbags and boarded up windows in preparation for the weekend. Several communities also began voluntary evacuations as the storm moved toward land.
“A storm of this magnitude is likely to cause extensive damage to communities along Texas’s coast,” said Richard Walden, CEO, Operation USA. “We are well versed in post-flood recovery and will preemptively prepare aid in order to deliver relief quickly and efficiently to where it’s needed most. Donations from the public at this time are crucial to our response.”
Operation USA previously worked in Texas when Hurricane Ike—the last hurricane to make landfall in the state—struck in 2008. At that time, the organization provided material and in-kind support to impacted communities. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, OpUSA will call on existing partnerships in Texas to expedite the delivery of aid. The organization is calling on both the public and corporate partners to support response and recovery efforts with monetary donations and bulk material aid.
HOW TO HELP:
Donations to Operation USA will be allocated directly to Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery efforts.
Donate online at give.opusa.org, by phone at 1-800-678-7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, PO BOX 36188, Los Angeles, CA 90036-0188. Donations can also be made via text message: text AID to 50555 to donate $10. Text donations are collected for the benefit of Operation USA by the mGive Foundation and subject to the terms found at http://www.mGive.org/t.
Corporate donations supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts — bulk quantities of disaster- appropriate supplies, transportation and shipping services, shelter, power generation, water purification and medical supplies — are also being requested.
United Airlines miles can be donated to Operation USA through United Airlines Charity Miles program at http://www.united.com.
About OPERATION USA:
Founded in 1979, Operation USA supports health and education programs in order to help children and families at home and abroad recover from disasters. Focusing on under-served and overlooked communities, and working with partners around the world, OpUSA empowers communities to recover, build resiliency and thrive. Learn more at http://www.opusa.org.
Richard Walden, President and CEO of Operation USA, is available as an expert source on disaster recovery.
PRESS CONTACT:
Mary Dolan
Director, Communications
Operation USA
mdolan(at)opusa.org
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Mary Dolan, Operation USA, http://www.opusa.org, +1 (323) 413-2353, [email protected]
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