Sheila Jackson Lee.Photo: David J Phillip/AP/Shutterstock
The deadly winter stormthat struck Texas last week left millions without power, water, heat and electricity — and the death toll has continued to rise into the dozens.
Now, as temperatures warm up, politicians from both the region as well as other parts of the country are lending a hand, working to distribute food and water, fundraise and provide other forms of relief for Texas residents, many of whom went without water and power for for more than 24 hours, as temperatures dropped to dangerous lows. (Many of those who did have water were under a boil water notice for days at a time.)
For more on the winter storm in Texas, listen below to the episode of PEOPLE Every Day.
At least 20 people across the state have died from health issues such as hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning linked te the low temperatures and fires related to the outages. Though the situation began to improve last week, some residents are still coping with finding food and managing issues such as burst pipes.
Below is a roundup of some of the political names who volunteered their time and efforts in Texas in recent days.
From left: Sylvia Garcia, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sheila Jackson Lee.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez/Twitter
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
On Saturday, Ocasio-Cortez shareda video on Twitteralongside Texas Reps. Garcia and Sheila Jackson Lee while packing meals for a nonprofit organization.
“Charity can’t replace policy, but solidarity is how we’ll face climate change and build a better world,” the lawmaker wrote.
Sylvia Garcia.THOMAS SHEA/AFP via Getty
Sylvia Garcia
The Houston representative organized a tour of the storm damage left behind in her district. Speaking to reporters on Friday, she said a full recovery would require homeowners to stay organized when tracking damage in order to seek aid.
“We’re going to work hard to bring the dollars necessary to Texas and to Houston. So we all have a full recovery,” Garcia said. “Document. Take pictures. Keep track of your receipts because you can already go online to start applying for help. "
Sheila Jackson Lee.David J Phillip/AP/Shutterstock
Sheila Jackson Lee
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee worked with the NACC, a coalition of Christian churches, todistribute groceries and waterto those in need at various areas in Houston last Thursday.
Lee was also on hand at the food bank event with Ocasio-Cortez and Garcia, where the three joined volunteers to help pack meals.
Beto O’Rourke.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty
Beto O’Rourke
Former Texas congressman and presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke launched a San Antonio wellness check canvass, organizingdoor-to-door check-insof city residents to see if they were in need of food, water or other supplies.
On Sunday, O’Rourke knocked on doors on the city’s westside, he wrote on Twitter, along with a video of him and County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez checking in on those in the area.
“In the heart of Westside San Antonio w/ Commissioner Rodriguez to help residents w/ water, food & assistance with repairs,” O’Rourke wrote.
O’Rourke — who recently said he wasmulling a gubernatorial runafter his unsuccessful 2018 and 2020 campaigns — has also organized wellness check-in groups in Austin and Houston and has been soliciting volunteers on social media.
Julián Castro.Eric Gay/AP
Julián Castro
Former housing secretary and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro boosted Ocasio-Cortez’s fundraiseron Twitterwith his own efforts raising $150,000 (triple its goal, he wrote on Twitter) forFeeding Texasfood banks.
“There is going to have to be a full investigation, I think both federal and state investigation into what went wrong,” he told MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell last week.
Rep. Al Green.Justin Sullivan/Getty
Al Green
Houston Rep. Al Green was among the lawmakers to join Ocasio-Cortez and local relief organizations to distribute food and water to Texans on Friday. In atweet about the volunteer event, Ocasio-Cortez wrote that Green, Garcia and Lee were doing “incredible work” in the local communities.
Ted Cruz.Ted Cruz/Instagram
Ted Cruz
Cruz, 50, shared a series of photos on Instagram and Twitter Saturday with the caption “#Texasstrong,” in which the Republican politician could be seen loading cases of water bottles into cars.
Critics, however, still slammed the Texas Republican, arguing that he should have been inquarantinehaving just come from traveling out of the country.
Others drew a stark contrast between Cruz and O’Rourke, who unsuccessfully challenged the Republican in the 2018 Senate race.
source: people.com
