CNS Photo/Richard Carson, Reuters

WASHINGTON (CNS)—Catholic dioceses and charities are organizing to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall with winds of 130 miles per hour late Aug. 25 in the Rockport, Texas area, northeast of Corpus Christi, and has since caused catastrophic flooding in southeastern Texas, including in the city of Houston.

A Texas National Guard soldier carries a woman on his back Aug. 27 during rescue operations in flooded areas around Houston, Texas. CNS Photo/Courtesy Texas Military Department

The National Weather Service said Aug. 27 that the amount of rainfall expected is “beyond anything experienced before.”

As of 9 a.m. Aug. 28, over 39 inches of rain were recorded at one location and three-dozen locations had received over two feet of rain with no end in sight. People trapped on rooftops, in cars and in homes were being rescued by helicopter, boat and by even jet ski.

Downgraded to a tropical storm, Harvey is the strongest storm to hit the United States in more than a decade. Several Texas communities, including Rockport, were leveled by the direct strike of the hurricane-force winds.

Catholic Charities USA, SVdP to respond

Catholic Charities USA, as well as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services, announced early Aug. 26 that they’re mobilizing to help persons affected by the hurricane. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops has a list of charities helping with the disaster listed on its website at https://txcatholic.org/harvey.

Texas National Guard soldiers assist citizens Aug. 27 during rescue operations in flooded areas around Houston, Texas. CNS Photo/Courtesy Texas Military Department via Reuters

Authorities reported at least five casualties as of Aug. 27, but because of safety issues, not many emergency teams have been yet able to respond to the aftermath and much of the damage is unknown. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared the state a disaster area, which will allow federal money to help in reconstruction. Catholic groups said they want to help with the immediate needs of the communities affected.

“We will be sending in rapid-response teams to help our impacted St. Vincent de Paul councils and we are coordinating nationally with the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Malta and (Catholic Charities USA),” said Elizabeth Disco-Shearer, CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Aug. 27 urged “all people of goodwill to closely monitor future calls for assistance for victims and survivors in the days ahead.”

The cardinal also is the head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, one of the hardest-hit areas.

“Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast in a catastrophic and devastating way this weekend, bringing with it severe flooding and high winds which have taken human life, caused countless injuries, and severely damaged homes and property throughout the region,” said the cardinal in an Aug. 27 news release. “The effects of this storm continue to put people in harm’s way, with horrific scenes playing out all around, such as those of people trapped on their rooftops as water continues to rise around them. Many dioceses of the church in the United States have been affected; many others will be as the storm continues.”

Other Texas dioceses step up to help

He asked for prayers but also for assistance for those affected. One of the first to pledge help was the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, where Bishop Daniel E. Flores authorized a second collection to be taken up at the diocese’s local churches on the weekend of Aug. 26-27 to send to Catholic Charities in nearby Corpus Christi and “other places hardest hit by loss of power, storm damage, flooding.”

It’s been hard to communicate with other areas, said Bishop Flores in an Aug. 26 interview with Catholic News Service, so it’s hard to gauge the extent of the damage. But he said his diocese wanted to get a head start to quickly divert help where it is needed and as fast as possible.

A man walks through floods waters and onto the main road Aug. 26 after surveying his property which was hit by Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas. CNS/Adrees Latif, Reuters

If the Rio Grande Valley, where Bishop Flores’ diocese is located, was spared the major impact of Hurricane Harvey, then the diocese had a duty to help their neighbors to the north, in the coastal areas of Corpus Christi and Galveston-Houston, which seemed to be hit hardest, he said. Hurricane Harvey seemed to enter near Corpus Christi and affected seven coastal counties in Texas and one Louisiana parish.

“We continue to pray for every for everyone affected by the hurricane and those who are at risk as the storms continue,” said Bishop Flores in a statement.

Melanie Starnauld and her 19-year-old son Mathew, who lost their home to Hurricane Harvey, await to be evacuated Aug. 26 from Rockport, Texas. CNS Photo/Adrees Latif, Reuters

“We have to remember … the families affected by flood damage in the next few days in other parts of the state will be in need of relief,” said Bishop Flores. “We will assess better how we can help as we get further information about the needs from the (Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops) and Catholic Charities.”

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said in a statement that the archdiocese pledged its support to recovery efforts that will start after the rain and wind subside.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people of the dioceses of Corpus Christi and Victoria, as well as the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, as they cope with the damaging effects of Hurricane Harvey,” he said. “The people of San Antonio have opened their arms to welcome evacuees of this historic hurricane, and Catholic Charities of the archdiocese has been assisting and will continue to assist in a variety of ways those impacted by this natural disaster.”

Bishop W. Michael Mulvey, of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, said he was grateful to the bishops who reached out to him and to his diocese. He said the true damage around the diocese still is not known and officials are waiting for conditions that will allow a better assessment of the damage.

In his statement, Cardinal DiNardo asked for prayers for emergency personnel and volunteers who are out and about in dangerous conditions and also “for those residing in our archdiocese, in Texas and along the Gulf Coast, be safe and may God have mercy on those affected by Hurricane Harvey.”