For someone who lives in California, I am not

Yes, I am anxious about Harvey as I have family and friends who are in the middle of it. My heart breaks for my fellow Texans. I like the idea about the Amazon wish Lists. I have donated money to a couple of organizations and will be dropping off cleaning supplies (clorox wipes, mops, buckets, laundry detergent, etc) to a local group that is going down to help with clean up. But it just doesn't feel like its enough.

I was completely torn up by the nursing home picture too (Have you seen the update photo? They're all safe and dry at a nearby nursing facility now <3).

In case anyone here sews, The Linus Connection of Central Texas is distributing homemade blankets to child evacuees and are accepting donations of quilts, single layer finished fleece blankets, and yarn blankets (30x30 - 54x74. They can be mailed to:

The Linus Connection
PO box 29491
Austin, TX 78755

Yes, I've been unduly anxious about all of this. I'm in Austin, so at first we weren't sure how we would be affected. (In my area, we got a lot of rain but it was nothing dangerous except during/immediately after the really intense rain.) Then I just kept worrying about my parents and uncle in Houston. We haven't heard from my uncle (though that's not at all uncommon), but my parents are safe and their house only received some rain leak damage. (They still can't get out of their neighborhood, but water is very slowly going down.) But now, I'm feeling guilty that we're having sunny, not-even-too-hot days while all this horrible stuff is still happening. A large part of my feelings are based in the facts that I've lived in Texas and S Louisiana for over 3/4 of my life, but still, I don't really have any personal impact from this. But I'm not sleeping right, and I feel that restless anxiety that makes me want to DO something. Sending money is the best thing right now, I know, but it just doesn't satisfy that anxiety.

I'm not trying to whine, I'd obviously prefer to be [anxious and perfectly safe and fine] than [anxious and losing people and property]. But I do understand what you're talking about.

I'm feeling the same. If I even think about it for a moment, I am tearing up..when I think about the kindness that has been shown by so many, some of whom have lost their homes as well, it is just overwhelming.

Everyone near me has someone who has been affected in one way or another, family, friends etc.

I think doing the donations are helpful to feel like we have something to offer. It has been so heartbreaking, but in the end I am really proud of how the state is handling it specifically people getting along and helping each other.

I was thinking this the other day when we had nonstop rain all day, starting the night before (this was the day Melania walked across the soggy White House lawn in her spike heels, lol).  -- Anyway, we were taking care of a neighbor's dog and between going up to her house to feed her, walking my dog and that dog in the rain, twice, and going to the grocery store I felt like I'd been wet all day. Then I remembered that really I wasn't. And that I could come home and take off wet socks and wet pants and change into cozy PJs and sit in my comfy chair with a nice hot cup of tea. Yep, I have no problems at all. 

So awful.  

That nursing home photo tore me up but unfortunately there are worse stories coming! In Beaumont it is being reported that a small child was found clinging to his dead mother's body in flood waters. I can't even begin to imagine!

abcnews.go.com/US/child-found-clinging-dead-mother-amid-disastrous-floods/story?id=49511730

I am affected directly and indirectly. I need to cry but I haven't been able to. I just feel numb.

Mostly what I feel is gratitude because we have damage but it could have been so much worse and yet guilt because so many others have such tremendous loss. My heart breaks for those who have been severely affected.

Yes, I've been feeling very sad and unsettled. We lived through Sandy and it's aftermath and I know what they are facing over the next weeks, months, years. They are still lifting houses in my shore neighborhood all these years later. And this now is so much worse.

Every picture I see breaks my heart - the children, the old people, the animals...

But I'm heartened by the heroism and the bravery, the sharing and compassion people are showing. Thanks for the links.