This is a long entry. Facebook readers please click this post to go to the full WordPress post and read it in its entirety.
Being previously Texan I monitor events in the Lone Star State. While Canada is my home I care about what happens down there. The image is what what Texans on and near the central coast would like to see tomorrow. It won’t happen.
As you may know Hurricane Harvey very rapidly intensified Thursday and Friday and is predicted to move onshore tonight (Friday night). It is already affecting places I lived in, visited, drove past/through. An Aransas Pass condo I spent many pleasant days in and around is likely already badly damaged and may be destroyed. I lived in Austin for years; it may experience high wind, torrential rain and resulting flooding. All of the people I know there will most likely be physically OK; they may be affected by wind, rain, flooding, power outages. So I have a direct tie to this awful event and am deeply affected.
Harvey is currently forecast to linger near the coast or just inland for several days. There will likely be large areas south and east of San Antonio that experience extended 60 mile per hour (100kph) winds, 10-20 inches of rainfall (250-500mm) with isolated instances of 40 inches (1000mm) possible, unprecedented flooding, widespread power outages, loss of water/wastewater service and other services we often take for granted.
Many Texans will need help to recover. I encourage you to donate time, money, service to the Red Cross or to a reputable relief agency of your choice.
Animals in area shelters, stray and lost pets picked up in affected areas, and the organizations that care for them will also need help. Consider donating to RedRover which helps out after events like this (full disclosure: I’m a RedRover volunteer and testify to its good work), to the Humane Society of the United States, or to another reputable group you know. If the opportunity comes up, consider fostering. I became involved in dog rescue in 2005 because of the need created by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and have never regretted it.
Finally, please pray if that is your preference, or think good thoughts if that works, for the people and animals affected.
previouslytexan 
Amen Andrew. While I left in 1980 and have only been back once, there are many places and people I remember with great fondness. Donations already on the way and wish I could foster, but this place would prohibit such a thing I think. Thanks for spreading the word.
Thank you Dee for your kind comments and for donating to help!