Ways to help Texas flooding victims while avoiding scams

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Disaster relief efforts are underway in Central Texas to assist victims impacted by the deadly July 4 flash floods that killed more than 100 people, as search and rescue teams continue to comb the Guadalupe River for the scores still missing.

Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp at the river's edge, confirmed at least 27 campers and counselors died in the floods. Camp officials said five campers and one counselor are still missing. As of July 8, rescue crews were searching for at least 161 other people still unaccounted for in Kerr County, one of the hardest hit areas in the state, Gov. Greg Abbott said.

Relief organizations, including the Red Cross and World Central Kitchen, have been in the area for days, helping people who were impacted. GoFundMe fundraisers have sprung up across the internet.

Unfortunately, whenever there's a disaster and people want to help, there are also scammers ready to take advantage of their generosity.

Here's how you can pitch in, without getting scammed.

Give money

The fastest way is, of course, to send money.

While there is often an urge to send water, blankets, food and other items, charity organizations aren't always ready to handle the logistical nightmare of organizing, sorting, storing and distributing physical goods. Donating money to trusted charities means the money goes to what's needed right now in the places it's needed most.

Charities also often get bulk discounts and may purchase items in the disaster area to help support local economic recovery.

There might be a time when items are needed, but in the early days, it's money.

How can I make sure my money gets to Texas flooding victims?

Scammers often try to take advantage of devastating emergencies. Before donating to an unfamiliar charity, do some research.

One easy method: search on Google for the name of the charity alongside words like "scam," "fraud," "complaint" or "rating."

You also can research them at one of the organizations that rate charities: The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (give.org), Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), Guidestar (guidestar.org), or CharityWatch (charitywatch.org). 

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains a list of approved charitable organizations.

If you see a social media post, email or text from a charity with a name you recognize, don't assume it's from the organization. It could be a scammer. Don't click on any links. Instead, go directly to the charity's website to donate.

Avoid donating to any message asking for cryptocurrency. The Federal Trade Commission has a page on detecting cryptocurrency scams at ftc.gov/cryptocurrency. Also avoid paying in cash, by gift card or by wiring money.

Pay by credit card or check and keep a record of your donations so you can check later to make sure the correct amount was charged. The FTC also has these tips to watch for:

• Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. That’s something scammers do.
• Some scammers try to trick you into paying them by thanking you for a donation that you never made.
• Scammers can change caller ID to make a call look like it’s from a local area code.
• Some scammers use names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving.
• Scammers make lots of vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.
• Bogus organizations may claim that your donation is tax-deductible when it is not.
• Guaranteeing sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a donation is not only a scam, it’s illegal.

If you believe you are dealing with a charity scam or are a victim of fraud, file a complaint with your state's attorney general and report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help others from getting victimized.

Can I trust GoFundMe fundraisers for victims of Texas flooding?

GoFundMe fundraisers for people impacted by the flooding are already piling up on the popular crowdfunding site.

These can be a great way to help individuals in need and put a face on the person you're donating to, but it also can be an easy way to get scammed as your social media fills up with both real flood victims and carefully crafted tales of woe. Read the campaigns carefully and avoid donating unless you're certain the fundraiser is legitimate.

GoFundMe's dedicated hub of Texas flooding requests have been verified to be legitimate.

What national organizations are helping Texas flooding victims?

American Red Cross: Always one of the first groups in and probably the best-known aid organization in the world, the Red Cross offers food, shelter, supplies, and emotional support to victims of crisis. It already has opened shelters in affected areas as well as two reunification centers, according to a post on X. You can contribute to the national group's Texas flooding relief efforts.

Americares: Americares focuses on medical aid, helping communities recover from disasters with access to medicine and providing personal protective equipment and medical supplies. The organization announced July 8 they have deployed an emergency response team to the area. You can donate to help at my.americares.org/give/623705

World Central Kitchen: When there is a disaster, Chef José Andrés is there with his teams to set up kitchen facilities and start serving thousands of meals to victims and responders. You can help by donating on their website.

The Salvation Army: Another group quick to get on the ground when disaster strikes, the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Kerrville is coordinating and accepting donations of nonperishable goods, personal hygiene items, diapers and other items while providing regular updates on its Instagram page. The Salvation Army of Texas has also deployed a deployed a mobile kitchen and team, according to a July 5 statement, and is taking donations here.

There are also many other organizations providing specialty care and assistance:

All Hands and Hearts: This volunteer-based organization works alongside local residents to help by rebuilding schools, homes and other community infrastructure. The group has staged to help the Kerr County flooding relief efforts as soon as it is safe to do so. You can donate to All Hands and Hearts here.

Direct Relief: Direct Relief brings long-term medical aid specifically needed by local officials and agencies. The organization has provided $50,000 to support rapid deployment of emergency medical supplies and operating funds to impacted areas, according to their website, and made more than $90 million in medicines and medical supplies available for healthcare providers. You can donate to their general fund here.

Operation Blessing: This group works with emergency management and local churches to bring clean water, food, medicine and more supplies to people with immediate needs in disaster areas. They're on the ground in Texas, their website said. Donate here.

Save the Children: This organization works to get child-focused supplies into the hands of families hardest-hit by the storm including hygiene kits, diapers and baby wipes as well as classroom cleaning kits to schools and assistance in restoring child care and early learning centers. While they have not yet launched a Texas flooding campaign, "Save the Children is closely monitoring the situation and assessing how children may be impacted," the organization posted to X. Donate to the Children's Emergency Fund.

Should I head to the affected regions and volunteer to help Texas flooding victims?

Unless officially requested, no.

There are disaster response teams and trusted organizations working on the ground, and random volunteers, while appreciated in theory, do not have the safety or medical training to help in disaster recovery, could get in the way with unauthorized drones and boat, might take up resources needed for locals or even become victims themselves.

To see how you can help and sign up to volunteer, go to Texas Community Recovery.

Can I help pets hurt or stranded by the Texas flooding?

There are a number of local organizations dedicated to helping animals in the affected regions.

Austin Pets Alive! reported it has taken in over 150 animals from flood affected areas and shelters in Kerr and Williamson counties as of July 6.

The shelter is working to find and rescue animals along the riverbank and is seeking donations to provide support to families who have lost pets, including for body recovery and cremation services.

The shelter is accepting donations on its website. They are working with Kerrville Pets Alive, which is accepting donations through @KerrvillePetsAlive on Venmo.

Contributing: Karissa Waddick, Paste BN