How to Help During the Texas Power Outages

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

Multiple days of freezing temperatures in Texas caused power outages across the state. These outages have left many people without access to food, shelter, and clean water. Whether you live in the area or not, you can help Texas residents in need by donating money and extra supplies to local and national organizations. If you live in Texas, you can help your fellow citizens by conserving power and water for those who need it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 10:
Donate money to a mutual aid fund in Texas.

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Local mutual aid funds are on the ground in Texas right now. Mutual Aid Houston (https://www.mutualaidhou.com/), Austin Mutual Aid (https://www.gofundme.com/f/kick-the-cold-austin-mutal-aid), and Feed the People Dallas (https://feedthepeopledallas.com/) are the biggest ones, and they’re all providing housing and food to those in need. You can donate to them via their websites, or you can contact them to see if they need volunteers.^{[1]
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- If you live in any states that neighbor Texas, check in with your local mutual aid groups. They may be sending people across state lines to help out.
- Watch out for charities that don’t have websites or don’t show proof of how they’re helping out. Never give money via gift cards or over social media.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 10:
Give money to a national charity.

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These charities are setting up warming centers and giving out food. The Salvation Army and The Red Cross are both active in most parts of Texas right now. You can donate to them on their websites to make sure Texas residents get the support that they need.^{[3]
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- Crowdsource Resource is another large organization that’s helping Texas residents right now.

Method 3

Method 3 of 10:
Support journalists via GoFundMe.

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Journalists are providing info to Texas residents so they can stay safe. If you have a little extra money, consider donating it via GoFundMe to journalists from the Austin American-Statesman, the Dallas Morning News, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. You can look them up on the GoFundMe website to find their donation spots.^{[4]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 10:
Open your home to people via Airbnb.

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If you live in the area, give people somewhere warm and safe to go. Sign up via Airbnb’s website to open your home up to those in need. You don’t have to have an Airbnb account to get started.^{[5]
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- Register with Airbnb’s Open Homes Program by visiting https://www.airbnb.com/openhomes/disaster-relief.
- If you’re registered with Noirbnb, you can do the same thing. Open up your home to those in need by sending an email to Concierge@noirbnb.com.^{[6]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 10:
Give blankets and supplies to people in need.

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Front Steps is a local nonprofit in Texas that you can donate to. If you live in the area and feel safe enough to drive, you can drop off blankets right on their doorstep in Austin, Texas. If you aren’t in the area, you can visit the Front Steps website to order a blanket and get it delivered.^{[7]
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- To ship a blanket to Front Steps, visit https://frontsteps.org/get-involved/ and click on “Amazon Wishlist.”
- You can also give money to Front Steps via the donation button on their website.

Method 6

Method 6 of 10:
Donate nonperishable foods to local food banks.

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Many people in Texas don’t have access to food right now. If you have extra supplies, consider boxing it up and giving it to a food bank in your area. Be sure to call ahead and double check that the food bank is open, since some of them have closed for safety reasons.^{[8]
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- If you live in Texas, you can find a food bank in your area by visiting https://www.feedingtexas.org/get-help/.

Method 7

Method 7 of 10:
Help animals keep warm by donating blankets and beds.

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Pets and stray animals are fighting to stay warm in the cold weather. You can donate money and supplies to organizations like Austin Pets Alive!, SPCA of Texas, and Operation Kindness. Check out their websites to find out what each organization needs and how you can get it to them.^{[9]
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- Be sure to call ahead if you do decide to drive out to one of these organizations. A few have had to shut down because of the weather.

Method 8

Method 8 of 10:
Point people to warming centers and resources.

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Texans without food or shelter have resources they can access. All Texas residents can call 211 at any time to find out where the nearest warming shelter is. Some cities are also providing free transportation and food to those in need.^{[10]
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- Houston residents can call the city hotline directly by dialing 311.
- Austin residents can call their cold weather hotline by dialing 512-305-ICEE.
- Homeless residents of San Antonio can call 210-207-1799 Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4 PM.
- Dallas residents can call the non-emergency line for information by dialing 817-392-1234.
- Rio Grande residents in need of food or shelter can call 956-682-8101.

Method 9

Method 9 of 10:
Reduce your energy usage if you live in Texas.

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The state of Texas has asked all residents to conserve power. If you live in Texas and you still have power, keep your thermostat to 68 °F (20 °C) or lower, close your shades and blinds, turn off any non-essential appliances, and avoid using large appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.^{[11]
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- If you’re a business owner, consider shutting down any non-essential production to conserve power.

Method 10

Method 10 of 10:
Conserve your water if you live in Texas.

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Many residents in Texas don’t have access to clean water. If you do, try to minimize your use by taking short showers, avoiding baths, and turning off washing machines and dishwashers. This is especially important for people in large cities like Austin and Houston.^{[12]
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- The state of Texas has also asked residents not to run the water to keep pipes from bursting.
- If your pipes have burst from the cold, turn the water off right away. If you don’t know how, call the fire department for help.