good advice here--as a former REd Cross volunteer, right now those folks in Houston are really needing a place to stay--which might evolve into needing a place to live for longer term as even houses suffering only "minor" flooding will be hit with mold/mildew,mud and perhaps critters! They need food--and someone to fix it cause they are without electricity/kitchens/pots& pans, etc. They are needing prescriptions refilled, clothing that will work for them (not tons of hand-me-downs), basics for setting up housekeeping, the chance to get back to normal--school, work, etc. Cleaning supplies to allow them to salvage what they can, plastic tubs to put salvaged items into, laundry service (the Tide trucks are a blessing in these situations). One thing that the REd Cross, Salvation Army, etc attempt to do is to access as much as can be supplied locally so that stores and business unaffected will be able to continue to function, provide jobs, etc. That being said, donations are able to go a very long way in these situations.