As of Monday morning, news reports indicate that the devastating flooding in Central Texas has resulted in at least 81 deaths including 27 from Camp Mystic in Kerr County. Dozens are still missing. More rain is expected today and the search for survivors continues. For those interested in helping through charitable contributions, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice.

Five Tips for Supporting Texas Flood Victims

• Cautions with donating goods. Donating clothing, food or other in-kind donations may not be the best way to help unless the charity has the ability to properly distribute such aid. Ask about their transportation and distribution plans.
• Find out what needs the charity is addressing. Many individuals and families in impacted areas will seek safety in shelters and need access to food and water. Charities focused on such activities serve a vital role in helping communities address natural disasters.
• Consider crowdfunding requests. If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust. Also review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take significant measures to vet posts, others don’t.
• Recognize the phases of disaster relief. While much of the attention focuses on the first 72 hours after a disaster, charities provide vital support well beyond that period. From immediate aid to long-term recovery and preparedness, your contributions help at every stage of rebuilding. Learn more on our disaster relief and preparedness cause page.
• Verify the charity’s trustworthiness. Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. We recommend giving to charities that meet all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability found at Give.org. On Give.org we invite you to browse our A-Z list of national charities, and search thousands of charity reports while filtering charities by state, cause area, and accreditation status.

As charities begin to raise funds for the victims of the Central Texas flooding, we will post a list of BBB Accredited Charities addressing this disaster. For now, interested donors can consider the American Red Cross, Salvation Army or Matthew 25: Ministries