Dear Flint Hill Families,
Having lived in Houston for many years, I was horrified and concerned, like many of you, by the images coming out of the area during and after Hurricane Harvey. We reached out to friends and the schools we knew well there and also touched base with some of our graduates who attend school there or live in the Greater Houston area. Contact was also made with some of our former Exxon Mobil families. Overall, reports were that everyone was safe and the schools survived, but some had experienced frightening moments as the water rose rapidly. And a number of families and facilities at the schools did suffer quantifiable losses. We also learned how well Rice University reacted to the support and care of their students, as they were kept sequestered in their dormitories.
Such an experience is as terrible as it appeared in the news. Our former home in Houston, located in a quiet neighborhood west of the city, flooded in 1992, with a foot of water throughout the first floor, when a storm dumped 8” of rain on the region — that same area sustained over 40” of rain during Hurricane Harvey.
So many of you have reached out to express concern for victims of Hurricane Harvey and have asked for guidance on how you can help. With relief efforts still underway and a new hurricane, Irma, posing an immediate threat to the state of Florida, here is what you can do:
- Research organizations. A number of organizations and websites are claiming to collect money for hurricane relief, but not all of them are legitimate. It is always wise to research a charity before you donate to it. Charity Navigator is a great resource.
- Support local and national organizations with designated relief funds. Here is a list:
Greater Houston Community Foundation
United Way of Greater Houston
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy
The Salvation Army
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston
The American Red Cross
Global Giving
Save the Children
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Hurricane Irma: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
Our thoughts and prayers are with the residents of the Greater Houston area and with the state of Florida as its residents prepare for Irma to make landfall. Compassion is one of our core values, and I am proud to be part of a community that values the needs of others so greatly. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call on me.
Best wishes to you!
Sincerely,
John Thomas
Headmaster