The record amount of rainfall and strong winds produced by Hurricane Harvey lead to the death of ten or more people, destroyed thousands of homes, and displaced tens of thousands of people in the Houston, Texas area. Thousands of Houston residents had to be rescued from their attics and rooftops. Recovery efforts are just beginning.
All sorts of help is being sought, including cash donations, in-kind donations, and the time and energy from volunteers to help Houstonians.
Houston is blessed to have a unified Muslim community under the umbrella of Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH). ISGH President M.J. Khan has stated that the Houston Muslim community is launching a unified Muslim recovery effort. The leadership of ISGH has sought and received the cooperation from Muslims and Muslim organizations around the country, including support from CIOGC, to support this recovery effort.
The catastrophic flooding requires immediate attention and CIOGC urges the Muslim community and people of all walks of life to support efforts to establish safe shelters, to provide food and medical care, to make cash donations, and to offer volunteer time to help those affected by this calamity. CIOGC member organizations and partners, including Baitulmaal, Islamic Medical Association of America (IMANA), Islamic Relief, and Zakat Foundation of America, are currently providing relief in those areas in Texas affected by the hurricane. CIOGC is working with its member organizations and the Chicago Muslim community to help provide relief at this time of great need in Houston.
Image: David J. Phillip/AP