Hurricane Disaster Relief
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria Disaster Relief Information
Hurricane Harvey has impacted Texas and the Gulf Coast with record-setting rains and flood levels leaving extensive damage and devastation. Hurricane Irma devastated Puerto Rico, the Carribean and Florida, and Hurricane Maria further damaged Puerto Rico. Below is a listing of ways to help those affected. Please help us keep this listing up to date by sharing information about resources and ways to help with ccps@unc.edu.
UNC Efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria Relief
- Carolina Disaster Relief listserv – It is no surprise that the Carolina community is responding in important ways to the immediate needs for relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew and now hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The recovery period for affected communities is long and will span years. In addition to donating money and volunteering with established groups working with affected communities, there will be additional ways to help in the coming weeks and months. Periodic updates will be shared through the Carolina Disaster Relief listserv. To join the listserv, send an email to ccps@unc.edu. If you are aware of disaster response or recovery efforts being coordinated on campus, or if you are organizing efforts to help, please send an email to ccps@unc.edu.
- Offices of Graduate Education sponsor hurricane relief drive for Tar Heel families in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
UNC disaster relief fund
Carolina’s Disaster Relief Fund supports Carolina’s response efforts, including future relief trips to affected areas.
- Make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund (010779).
- UNC students, faculty and staff may submit a request for grant funding from the Disaster Relief Fund to support relief trips and projects. Please use either the disaster relief project grant application or the disaster relief trip grant application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Send applications as an email attachment to ccps@unc.edu.
Ways to Help
National organizations
- All Hands Volunteers
- American Red Cross. Givers can text “HARVEY” to 90999
- Americares
- Corporation for National & Community Service
- International Medical Corps
- National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
- Samaritan’s Purse
- The Salvation Army. Givers can text “STORM” to 51555
- United Methodist Committee On Relief
- To register as an affiliated volunteer with a voluntary or charitable organization, visit the National VOAD for a list of partners active in disasters. You may also register to volunteer for partner organizations to reach out to you.
Local Texas/Houston area organizations
- Food Bank of Corpus Christi
- Houston’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
- Houston Food Bank
- Houston Humane Society
- Houston SPCA
- Texas Diaper Bank
- Texas Library Association Disaster Relief Fund
- Purchase a Texas Library Association Coloring Book benefiting disaster relief
Local Florida organizations
Local Puerto Rico organizations
How to donate safely to an organization
Before making a charitable donation, consider researching organizations to make sure that they will use donations and resources affectively. Charity Navigator evaluates organizations and provides unbiased ratings.
Resources
- Apply for Texas Library Association Disaster Relief Funds
- List of Federal Disaster Relief Resources
- FEMA Fact Sheets: Donate and Volunteer Wisely
Message about Hurricane Harvey
Dear Campus Community:
Over the past few days, we have watched the catastrophic flooding resulting from Hurricane Harvey along the Texas coast grow even worse, and our hearts ache for those who are suffering.
In North Carolina, we know all too well these difficulties. It was just a year ago that our state experienced flooding from Hurricane Matthew. And many North Carolinians who were impacted are still recovering, even a year later.
As we watched the tragic events in Texas, our thoughts immediately turn to any students, faculty or staff who may have family in the affected area. For students, if you are from that area and need assistance, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 919-966-4042, as well as Counseling and Psychological Services, part of Campus Health Services at 919-966-3658. Faculty or staff may call the Employee Assistance Program, ComPsych, toll-free, 24 hours a day at 877-314-5841.
As Tar Heels, we always want to lend a helping hand. Our University leaders have reached out to counterparts at affected Houston schools to offer any assistance. For ways to help, or if you are organizing efforts to help, please visit Hurricane Harvey at the Carolina Center for Public Service website.
We will continue to keep a close eye on the Gulf Coast and offer any help that we can. I know that you will join us in keeping the people of this area in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Carol L. Folt
Chancellor
Winston Crisp
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Felicia A. Washington
Vice Chancellor for Workforce Strategy, Equity and Engagement
Message about Hurricane Irma
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:
The National Weather Service predicts that North Carolina may feel the effects of Hurricane Irma in the coming days. The impacts on specific areas within North Carolina, including the Triangle area, remain uncertain.
University officials are closely monitoring reports from emergency management agencies and state officials and taking precautions to keep the campus community safe and well-informed about changes in weather conditions that may impact the local area.
While we don’t currently expect Hurricane Irma to affect campus operations, if conditions change, look for announcements on www.unc.edu, alertcarolina.unc.edu, and through other communications including email and text messages. If you have not registered your cell phone to receive text messages about emergencies from the University, go to alertcarolina.unc.edu and click on “Register” in the banner. You can also download LiveSafe, the University’s emergency safety app.
We also remind everyone that weather conditions such as this can produce dangerous situations on roadways and sidewalks, and if conditions worsen, downed powerlines and tree branches could occur. Be cautious of flooded walkways and roadways and do not approach downed powerlines. Stay away from storm drains and drainage systems: turn around, don’t drown. Also, watch for missing manhole covers or other ground-level dangers. Stay inside if these serious conditions are encountered. For additional details about being safe and secure when faced with serious storms, visit the National Weather Service.
We also encourage you to tell family and friends now about the American Red Cross Safe and Well List website, so they will know how to get your “safe and well” message in an emergency. In the event of an emergency, you can register on the redcross.org/safeandwell website.
In addition, we urge everyone to visit ready.gov/hurricanes or readync.org to review basic information about how to prepare for a hurricane.
For more campus safety information, visit alertcarolina.unc.edu.
In the event of an emergency on campus, please call 9-1-1. In a non-emergency, contact UNC Police at 919-962-8100.