[Please feel free to pass this around.]

As some of you are aware, this Orange, Texas you’re hearing about on the news (usually accompanied by words like “storm surge”, “widespread flooding”, “submerged from 6 inches to 6 feet,” etc.) is the place where I spent a hefty chunk of my childhood. It’s a lovely little town, pictures like these notwithstanding, and it was one of the hardest-hit areas outside of Galveston when Hurricane Ike came rolling around.

Back in the day, we’d always get a little excited at the prospect of a hurricane. Why, it might mean a whole day or two off school! We might get to huddle in the dark for a few hours with candles! Thrilling!*

But now, Houston and its outlying area (which includes my old stomping grounds) is looking at up to 2 weeks off school, with no power and a effectively no water. Gas has basically run out, as I understand it, and there aren’t even any streetlights. The city is under a 6 p.m. curfew to prevent looting. The grocery stores are stripped and crowded beyond capacity (much less stock), and the food banks are all but bankrupt.

Via CNN: The Houston Food Bank is “utterly overwhelmed with people asking for help,” its president, Brian Greene, said Tuesday. The food bank needs 500,000 pounds of food a day for the next six weeks to satisfy the “staggering” needs of Texans who have no food or water after the storm, he said.

“It’s a very similar situation that I saw following Katrina: when the caregivers themselves [are] victims, it just becomes difficult on a far larger scale than you would think,” he said.

If you’d like to help — and oh holy crap they need some help — here are some links to get you started:

The Houston Food Bank. “The Houston Food Bank is “utterly overwhelmed with people asking for help,” its president, Brian Greene, said Tuesday. The food bank needs 500,000 pounds of food a day for the next six weeks to satisfy the “staggering” needs of Texans who have no food or water after the storm, he said.”

The Houston SPCA. “Teams from the Houston SPCA loaded tens of thousands of pounds of crates, food, litter, water, newspapers, cleaning and medical supplies, bowls, blankets and other supplies and headed for Galveston. The closer they got to Galveston, the more tragic the devastation …”

The Capital Area Food Bank (Austin). It’s my understanding that this food bank has also been chipping in to help out in Houston, and now it too is wholly depleted. Most-needed items: bottled water, granola bars, canned meats (pop-top lids), peanut butter, diapers & wipes (adult and baby), personal care items (toothpaste, toothbrush, feminine products, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc.). This food bank is also taking donations for the survivors of Ike. Edited to add: For every $5 donated to the Austin Capital Area Food Bank, $20 worth of food will be used for evacuees and victims.

The American Red Cross of Central Texas. “The American Red Cross of Central Texas, the City of Austin, and Austin Independent School District are following the Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan (CASHP) and have received over 6,000 evacuees from Hurricane Ike. Over 22 shelters were opened in Travis and Williamson Counties. Currently, many evacuees have returned home or have moved to shelters in different parts of Austin, though we continue to shelter at least 2,000 evacuees in Austin currently.”

The Austin Humane Society. “To date, AHS has provided Emergency Pet Sheltering Services to 148 pets (dogs, cats, turtles, birds, guinea pigs and even an iguana) from evacuees staying in emergency shelters. 59 have been reunited with their owners and 89 remain in our care.”

Hands On Central Texas. Looking for Disaster Response volunteers for its 211 Texas program. “Description: 2-1-1 Texas, a program of United Way Capital Area, provides free statewide, 24-hour access to health and human services and disaster information through its multilingual helpline.”

Via Weather Underground. “A group of wunderground members are spearheading their own Hurricane Ike relief effort, aimed at providing assistance and supplies to people that are not in the mainstream relief areas. They’ve already raised $5000, and the first relief truck with supplies is on the way to Texas. Deductions are tax-deductible, and can be made in several ways: Patrap’s wunderblog, www.stormjunkie.com, www.portlight.org.

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. “Collections resumed Tuesday after a four-day hiatus due to Hurricane Ike, so donations are especially needed now to replenish the blood supply and ensure that blood is available for patients in need….Special extended hours will be observed at ten Neighborhood Donor Centers, which will open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. to give donors adequate time to get home before the local curfew takes effect. A small number of mobile blood drives also will be open to the public on Wednesday.”

The Texas Department of Agriculture – Phone number, 1-877-429-1998 — taking donations of feed and money for stranded and starving cattle.