HOUSTON: Indian-Americans in
Texas
, especially the youth, are helping hundreds of people affected by catastrophic floods caused due to
Hurricane Harvey by providing food,
shelter
and medical assistance.
Though they are affected, too, they have formed numerous volunteer groups by using Facebook and Whatsapp to communicate details about the families affected in each locality.
Temples, gurdwaras, mosques and several restaurants have opened their doors to provide shelter to the victims.
Indian restaurants have been reaching out to people with free food and providing water, medical supplies, toiletries, baby food and cleaning supplies.
Approximately 1,50,000 Indian-Americans and Indians live in the greater Houston Area, according to Jagdip Ahluwalia, Executive Director of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of greater Houston.
"This time the power of the young and dynamic is really visible as the first generation Indian-American teenage kids are enthusiastically registering for providing Harvey relief at major shelters and food banks under the banner of
SEWA International
," said Vijay Pallod, an active Houston Community member.
Hurricane Harvey, one of the most destructive storms in US history, is a tropical cyclone that is causing unprecedented and catastrophic flooding in southeastern Texas.
Gitesh Desai, President of SEWA International's Houston Chapter, has estimated that one in four Indian-Americans has been displaced in the catastrophe.
Dinesh Thakur, owner of India Cafe has been supplying many shelters with fresh cooked meals and other supplies daily.
Other Indian organisations like Hindus of Greater Houston, India House, India Culture Center, the Indo American Charity Foundation, Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston and the Indo American Political Action Committee have decided to coordinate the relief efforts of the community through SEWA International.
Rescue work has intensified in the US state of Texas as officials have launched search operations to help people stuck in receding floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey that has claimed at least 47 lives.