With hurricane season on the rise, it is important to be well informed and prepared wherever disaster strikes. No matter the type of natural disaster, hurricane, tornado, earthquakes, there is so much that can be done to help those in need. The aftermath of these events can leave lives in pieces. All around you hear and witness those who lend a hand and help the ones in need. How can you help? What can you do to help the ones who really need it right now?

Hurricane Harvey hit Texas August 25 - September 2, 2017. The Category 4 hurricane brought on billions of dollars in damages. Hurricane Harvey set a National Record Rainfall for a Single Tropical Storm.

During this natural disaster, people came together and are still sending help in helping the people of Texas recover from the horrific events. Through these times, and with Hurricane Irma on its tail for Florida, people need to band together to help the victims of these disasters ahead. With any kind of disaster, things are needed and desperately searched for. Below are some examples of ways to help with the aftermath of natural disasters.

1. Supplies

Supplies of all kinds are needed such as clothes, food, water and even shelter. There are websites where you can donate or you could try and look into a community center or school around your area that is helping out. Churches may also have donation spots for canned food and clothing that can be dropped off. If you are looking into donating money than you should look into a few websites below that can accept money to put towards the cause.

• Rescue.org
• American Red Cross
• Save The Children
• UNICEF

2. Donating Blood

All across college campuses, blood donation drives are organized to send blood to the victims in need from the natural disaster. Red Cross (link listed above) urges people to donate and help the victims of a crisis due to so many injuries occurring from the natural disasters. During the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, hospitals are overflowed with injuries in search of supplies, the same results are impacting Florida during Hurricane Irma.

3. Shelter

So many citizens have opened their homes and places of employment to those in search of shelter in these times of need. If you are unable to open your home, building materials are a must to help rebuild the rubble that is left behind by a tragedy. During Tornado season, people all over send supplies to those affected by the that tornados leave behind.

4. Money

Celebrities donate money in generous amounts to helping those affected by the disasters that have struck. Though life around us as returned to a state of normalcy, those affected by Hurricanes this season are without fuel, power and still in need of supplies. If interested in donating to the cause, NBC News and others have charities listed on their websites to donate money to.

5. Prayers

No matter what you believe in, sending a prayer to those in need do more than some will ever know. If you struggle with trying to figure out how you can help out in this time of need, sending prayers their way is always a good way to start. Whether you are praying for those far in the disaster or if you are yourself, take a moment and pray. You can pray for the things that made it through the storm; family, memories, pets and being alive. It is important to encourage yourself and those around you to keep your head up in these hard times.

6. Preparing for next time

While no one wants to think of the next time disaster could strike, it is important to try and become prepared no matter what could happen.Keeping a checklist of essentials needed to either evacuate or hold down the fort at home, is always a good idea. Making sure you have batteries, gas tanks, an updated first aid kit and anything else that is important for when the times come is essential to being prepared.

In the moment of any type of natural disaster that strikes our country, it is important to remember that no matter where it happens, no matter who it happens to, it is important to remember that we are all human and we all matter. So send help, send prayers, send your love to those who need it most when they have nothing.