Houston Hurricane Relief: How Not To Help & What You Can Do
A Message From Chief Thompson & RC EMS
ROBERTSON COUNTY TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – With Houston underwater, people from around the country are reaching out with all kinds of support. Now local officials are reaching out to the Robertson County community with some information designed to channel local efforts and help keep those who want to help from becoming part of the problem.
Springfield Police Chief David Thompson has some experience in the area of natural disasters and has offered the following information to help steer those that want to help.
“After seeing a man on the Nashville News telling everyone he is driving the Houston with underwear, socks, and clothes… I just had to provide some important comments based on years of experience with hurricanes and recovery efforts.
“When you randomly drive to a disaster area to help, you become part of the problem. You are part of the traffic, you need gas, you need food and water, you need a place to stay, and you are bringing clothing that will get wet and go to waste. Despite your good intentions, you will add to the work of the first responders.
“Even if you are a first responder, just showing up unexpected and uninvited is counterproductive.
“If you want to help, then donating to an emergency relief organization is a great start. If you want to go to the disaster area to help, then coordinate with FEMA or an organization coordinating relief into the area. Please don’t drive to a disaster area with no coordination and no plan. Despite your good will, you may just make matters worse.”
One way you can help is by donating to local groups that are prepared to deal with disasters and transporting items into an affected disaster area. Robertson County EMS has offered it’s facility as a place you can donate to the relief effort.
Robertson County EMS/flood relief donations:
In light of the floods wreaking havoc in Texas, we at Robertson County EMS have decided to designate our headquarters as a public drop off location for donations to provide aid to those affected by the storm.
We are asking for non-perishable foods such as- cheese or peanut butter crackers, beef jerky, apple sauce, pudding, fruit cups, granola bars, cereal bars, ramen noodles, packaged nuts, trail mix, fruit snacks, peanut butter, any kind of pasta, spaghetti sauce, canned vegetables/fruit, macaroni and cheese, chips, pretzels, goldfish, boxed drinks and juices, vienna sausages, canned tuna, pop tarts, oatmeal, dried beans and rice, spam etc. Only in date items, please.
We are also asking for hygeine products, including soaps, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes /toothpaste, diapers/wipes, feminine products, hand sanitizer, etc. Clothing and shoes of all sizes will certainly be welcomed.
Clean drinking water is of particular high demand in the affected area, so bottled water would be much appreciated.
Our station is located at 1305 Hill St. in Springfield, MAP behind the fire department. We will begin accepting these items from 7 am till 7 pm every day until further notice. We hope to quickly collect a substantial amount, so that a truck can deliver these items very soon. We will not be accepting monetary donations. If at all possible, please have items placed in cardboard boxes, as this will be necessary for shipping purposes.
At any given time, all of us are in danger of a major disaster, and would be in dire need of assistance. Any help would be very much appreciated.
CAUTION:
If you decide to help, be alert to scams and fraud. If you are approached for donations be sure to confirm your money ends up in Houston and not somebody’s pocket. If you have doubts about an organization, email their info to [email protected]. We’ll try to verify their authenticity for you.
If your group is reaching out to Houston, feel free to post your information in comments.
Smokey Barn News (Sponsor/Advertisement) 
We bring you ALL the News in and surrounding Robertson County, Tennessee.
