Before diving into ways the NFL has assisted during times of need, it’s important for us to understand what a flood is. A flood is a temporary overflow of water onto land that’s normally dry. Flooding can happen with only a few inches of water, or it can cover a house to the roof. Flooding can occur slowly over a period of days, or it happens within a matter of minutes without warning. These are called flash floods.
Although some natural disasters are extremely rare, floods can happen anywhere. Rainfall is a primary cause of flooding, which is why it can occur in places like Houston. If you think a flood can be prevented, it can’t. They can occur during every season, but some areas of the country are at greater risk than others certain times of the year. Coastal areas (like Louisiana, and Texas) are at even greater risk of flooding during hurricane season (June to November), while the Midwest is more at risk during the spring time.
How the NFL Plans on Helping Houston Residents Recover
How has the storm affected NFL games?
Most teams weren’t affected by the flood. However, due to public safety resulting from the ongoing weather emergency from the hurricane, Thursday’s Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans game was canceled. That being said, the NFL, along with the Texans, will continue to monitor the situation in Houston and make adjustments as necessary.
This is a no-brainer considering the relatively small distance between Houston and Arlington (a four-hour drive). As a matter of fact, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the league cancel games in Texas considering it’s still preseason. Instead, the league opted to move the game a few hundred miles north.
How does the NFL plan on helping residents?
Plenty of athletes like Emmanuel Sanders, Duane Brown, Wade Smith, and Emmanuel Ogbah have all taken to Twitter recently to share their prayers and support for the people throughout the Houston area and in southwest Texas.
As southwest Texas works on rebuilding, the sports world is mobilizing to help.
Hurricane Harvey’s catastrophic rainfall and life-threatening floods have all sparked an outpouring of love and support from both professional teams and athletes like J.J. Watt, who’s already raised more than $3.2 million for relief efforts. Notably, the hometown Houston Texans organization has pledged to help the city by donating $1 million to those affected by the storm.
“These dollars will be put to good use in the relief and recovery efforts,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said this past week. In doing so, the team hopes that their actions will encourage others to do the same.
The Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, along with the NFL Foundation all followed suit shortly after. They have all pledged to donate $1 million to the United Way of Greater Houston’s Flood Relief Fund. The NFL organization has also been directing fans to places where they can donate to like the American Red Cross.
Despite the millions of dollars being raised by professional athletes, team managers, and coaching staff, it still isn’t enough. In other words, the city still needs help financially and isn’t prepared to tackle the aftermath of this disaster just yet.
Organizations are also encouraging residents to:
- Move immediately to higher ground if needed.
- Avoid walking and/or driving through flood water. Instead, turn around. Just six inches of moving water can sweep you off your feet.
- Photograph damages to your property for insurance purposes.
- Turn on your TV/ radio. That way you receive the latest news and weather updates.
Donate food and clothing: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking people to please donate clothing, medical supplies, baby items, and food to shelters nearby. Feeding Texas is also teaming up with local food banks to distribute food and cleaning supplies. This organization, in particular, ask that people drop off non-perished food, bleach, and paper towels.
