With Hurricane Beryl’s cost of damages estimated to be $28 billion-$32 billion nationwide, the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance announced at a July 15 news conference the creation of the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund.

What residents need to know

The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint disaster partnership, launched the fund to serve uninsured or underinsured residents, officials said at the conference. The alliance was formed in 2023 in partnership with the United Way of Greater Houston and Greater Houston Community Foundation.

The money will be distributed to disproportionately impacted ZIP codes and vulnerable populations in:“What we are witnessing today is Houston’s greatness—there's no other community in Texas or the nation that comes together during a crisis,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said at the conference. “Let’s just all remember, coming together will make the difference ... together. United we do what no other community can do, and today is another indication of that.”

The fund has already received over $3 million in donations, with $1 million commitments from Sarofim Foundation, H-E-B and the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, said Bob Harvey, co-chair of the alliance's Disaster Recovery Council. The fund has also received donations from Wells Fargo and Shell.


“Difficult times are when I like to think we see the best of this community," Harvey said. "As our neighbors face the next step and their long road to recovery, we encourage those who can contribute financially to support the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund. Truly any amount makes a difference in this effort.”

Get involved

Those wanting to contribute to the fund can donate by:
  • Credit card on the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance website
  • Bank transfer with a note designating it for the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund
  • Check mailed to United Way of Greater Houston at P.O. Box 3247 Houston, Texas, 77253-3247 with a subject of “Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund”
What they’re saying

“The Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund will allow us to lift up the most vulnerable and provide them with emergency financial assistance, home repairs and critical help,” said Amanda McMillian, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Houston. “We know that across our community, 13% of households are struggling on incomes below the federal poverty line and another 31% of households in our region are working hard but struggling to make ends meet—when disaster strikes, it's these neighbors who often get hit the hardest.”


What else?

Beyond monetary donations, volunteers are needed to help clean up and restore the community, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at the conference. Volunteer opportunities include:
  • Tree removal
  • Food distribution
  • Helping with other major nonprofit and government operations
“Volunteerism makes a huge difference as well,” she said. “There are many people in the community who had a terrible time without power but now have their power back and they would like to help. ... It takes up to six people an entire day to remove one large tree, so imagine the number of homes that are affected [with] over 6,000s [downed trees] that have been reported.”

To sign up to volunteer, call 211.

Another note


Those needing assistance are encouraged to call the 24/7-operated 211 hotline to be connected to resources, McMillian said.

According to the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance website, residents can also connect with 211 by: