How Long Islanders can help in the wake of Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey slammed into the southeastern Texas coast last Friday as a Category 4 storm, lashing homes and businesses with 130-mile per hour winds and dumping three or more inches of rain per hour, according to the National Weather Service. The storm surge out of the Gulf of Mexico ranged from six to 12 feet.

Harvey was the most powerful hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

At press time on Monday, just over 39 inches of rain had fallen on southeastern Texas, with another 10 or more inches on the way. According to the NWS, rain could fall on and off for up to nine days.

The devastation, according to all reporting out of Texas, is on an apocalyptic scale. Ten deaths had been confirmed as of press time.

North and South Shore residents are all too familiar with the level of destruction wrought by a hurricane of this magnitude. Superstorm Sandy — monstrous in its sheer size and path of devastation — rolled across the region on Oct. 29, 2012. The area has yet to fully recover, with many homes and some businesses still lifeless shells.

Watching Harvey wreak havoc in the Lone Star State left so many Nassau County residents wondering, What can I do to help?

Even before Sandy hit Long Island 58 months ago, the Red Cross was on the ground, setting up an emergency shelter in the Nassau Community College gymnasium in Garden City. For weeks, Red Cross workers were also in the hardest-hit communities, delivering clothes, flashlights, batteries and food to people in need.

Donating to the Red Cross is among the most obvious ways to help with the Harvey relief effort. Go to redcross.org, and you’ll find the “Donate Now” button front and center.

There are also many Texas-based organizations that are offering relief. Among them are:

The Houston Food Bank: houstonfoodbank.org

The Galveston County Food Bank: galvestoncountyfoodbank.org

The Corpus Christi Food Bank: foodbankcc.com

The Houston Coalition for the Homeless: homelesshouston.org

SPCA of Texas: spca.org/waystogive

Catholic Charities of Galveston and Houston: catholicharities.org/members/catholic-charities-archdiocese-of-galveston-houston

Austin Disaster Relief Network: adrn.org/disaster-relief/hurricaneharvey/

At the same time that Harvey had many Nassau County residents wanting to help, they were also feeling vulnerable. Each hurricane or tropical storm brings back feelings of fear and helplessness. Mental-health experts say it’s a form of post-traumatic stress disorder — and it’s very real, they note.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America suggests that people do the following to help relieve their stress about any storms that might strike in the future:

Create an emergency plan. A well-prepared plan for your family can reduce anxiety and chaos before, during and after a storm. Make an evacuation plan, and assemble preparedness kits. The Red Cross offers instructions on creating such kits. For more, see www.redcross.org.

Be informed. Stay up to date on weather information and warnings. If you’re aware of the latest information, you may gain a sense of control over your feelings.

Talk it out. Share your fears with family members, friends, a counselor or others who can offer emotional support.

Accept what you can’t control. Nobody can dictate the path of a storm or its damage. Excessive worrying that one might hit you won’t change anything except your emotional well-being.

When talking with children, remain calm and supportive. Tell them that thunder won’t hurt them. Explain that storms are a normal part of nature. Offer facts. Children who are afraid of storms may benefit from learning more about them.

After the storm, do something positive. Donate blood, prepare care packages or volunteer to help others, all of which can provide a sense of purpose in a situation that feels unmanageable.

Follow your daily routine as much as possible.

Limit your exposure to repeated news stories, which can increase stress.

Rest, exercise and eat properly.