Nation must come together to aid Texas

It’s difficult to grasp the scope of devastation in Houston and surrounding areas of Texas hit by Hurricane Harvey.

It was just a week ago that the nation put aside its partisan differences – at least for two and a half minutes – donned special glasses, and gazed to the sky.

What we saw was truly aweinspiring.

Yesterday, we did the same, once again uniting and watching an other worldly aspect of nature.

But while last week’s show was heavenly, what we are all watching in Texas is hellish.

It’s really difficult to grasp the scope of the damage that Hurricane Harvey is inflicting on Houston and the immediate area surrounding it. The storm slammed into Texas’ Gulf Coast early Saturday, packing winds up to 150 mph and torrential rain.

The storm quickly dissipated into a tropical storm. The rain did not.

It has been raining for three straight days in the Houston area, literally leaving the nation’s fourth largest city under water. Thousands have been stranded in their homes, unable to get out while rescue crews in many cases have been unable to get in to them.

Roads have become impassable. The best means of transportation in many areas of the city is boat. Kayaks and canoes have replaced cars and bicycles on flooded streets.

Just how much rain is Houston going to endure? Some experts believe that before the storm clears the region later in the week, as much as 50 inches of rain will have deluged the area.

The deluge does not respect any demographic boundaries. Residents have been rescued from multi-million dollar mansions to low-rent apartments.

Even the Red Cross command center in Houston became a victim, isolated and cut off by the rising water.

As always, the nation is responding to the heartache seen in Texas.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it has 400 urban search-and-rescue personnel in Texas; 500 more were expected to arrive Sunday night. The Coast Guard had 423 active duty and auxiliary personnel in place.

The agency reports making more than 2,000 rescue efforts; 5,000 people currently are being housed in shelters. Yes, help is on the way. Destination: Houston.

Gov. Tom Wolf Sunday announced that 45 members of the state Task Force One, Urban Search and Rescue Task Force departed Philadelphia to report immediately to Fort Worth, Texas, to assist in water rescue and search and rescue efforts there.

“The images coming out of Texas are heartbreaking and difficult to imagine,” said Wolf. “We know that this will be a long-term response and recovery effort, and Pennsylvania stands ready to provide whatever help we can to citizens and first responders in Texas or any other state impacted by the storm.”

Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, chief executive officer of the Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania, noted local volunteers are already on their way to Texas.

And many Red Cross workers here are already pitching in, answering calls for help that are being redirected from the swamped Houston area.

Local Red Cross volunteers will be dispatching to Texas and the Gulf Coast for twoweek stints as part of the relief effort.

“We’ve been on the phone since Thursday, calling each and every volunteer to say, ‘Can you deploy?’ and if you can’t, can you deploy in two weeks?” Hughes said.

As always, the best way for local citizens to help the relief effort is with their wallets.

Those wishing to donate can do some in one of three ways:

• Calling the Red Cross directly at 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).

• Visiting the website redcross.org and donating there.

• Or simply texting “HARVEY” to 90999, which will automatically send $10 to the Red Cross.

In addition, donations of blood are badly needed.

Harvey is the most powerful storm to hit the United States in years and the first Category 3 or greater storm to hit the U.S. in 12 years.

The scenes in Houston remind many of the devastation that Katrina inflicted on New Orleans 12 years ago.

As usual, when the worst happens, America reacts.

Houston will recover. We’ll see to that. We will unite just as we did last week to exult in the eclipse, to rally around Americans in need.

Come hell - and high water.