Our hearts go out to our neighboring Texans who have been devastated by the loss of life and property destruction from the massive flooding earlier this week. While forecasts call for less rain in the next few days, the swollen rivers continue to rise from the record downpours that have made this the wettest May on record.

Chester Jourdan, executive director of the American Red Cross of Southeast and Deep East Texas, shared information about how the Red Cross is on the front lines of assisting Texans who are so badly in need of help. He also encouraged those who are able to help financially in the Red Cross mission to be on the front lines when crisis strikes.

The work of the Red Cross, The Salvation Army and other agencies is still in the memory of many Triangle residents who relied on help from that agency and others after hurricanes Rita and Ike. Jourdan was executive director of the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission when Rita hit and he personally saw how the disaster relief agencies came to our assistance. Now, as the leader of our local Red Cross chapter, he is working to bring that same assistance to others.

It was donations from others who made that assistance available to us. Now it is our turn to help others in Texas and across the nation who have been the victims of the recent violent weather.

To donate to the American Red Cross, go to www.redcross.org. To donate to the Salvation Army, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.