If You Are Donating Money to Hurricane Harvey Think Twice About Where You Send It

By streiff | 7:56 PM on August 27, 2017

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*Texas National Guard soldiers arrive in Houston, Texas to aid citizens in heavily flooded areas from the storms of Hurricane Harvey. (Photos by Lt. Zachary West , 100th MPAD)*

This tweet, or tweets like it, are making the rounds on Twitter

The people of Texas need our help and our kindness. Text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. @RedCross

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 27, 2017

A lot of celebrities are offering to match contributions. This may be a good deal. It may not.

While the Red Cross is often first on the scene, and it will have the highest visibility of any relief organization, it may not be your best bet. Why?

Check for how the Red Cross responded to Hurricane Sandy, the Haiti Earthquake, Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Katrina, or 9/11 (use the search string “red cross diverted funds [name of disaster]”). Read the claims. Read the Red Cross response. Read the results of Senate inquiries like that by Charles Grassley. Read the critiques of the Red Cross response. Make up your own mind if the Red Cross, rather than an alternative, is your best bet. Mine is going to the Houston archdiocese.