J.J. Watt Raises over $10M to help Harvey Victims
Story here:
For those who want the short version: J.J. Watt of course plays for Houston and began raising money to help those affected by the Hurricane. He started with a $1M goal, and has increased that goal a few times once the goal has been met. Currently the site has raised over $10.6M dollars. Notable donations include $1M from rival Tennessee Titans and $1M from Walmart & Ellen DeGeneres.
Link to J.J.'s charity:
https://www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053
Link to Seth's recommended Charities:
http://www.mgoblog.com/content/neck-sharpies-beef-spread-offense
August 31st, 2017 at 2:07 PM ^
Here's a link to the same story on the Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/08/29/who-knows-…
"Fauxmo and Balanced" (TM)
August 31st, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
Huh. You didn't strike me as the type of person who would care about what site was linked to. Its appears you may have feelings after all.
August 31st, 2017 at 2:34 PM ^
Nah, not really...
August 31st, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
Love seeing athletes use their position to help their communities. This is great! Major props to him.
August 31st, 2017 at 2:13 PM ^
Did Floyd donate any money?
August 31st, 2017 at 2:15 PM ^
Hahahahahahaahahahaha, yeah, to his strip clubs...
August 31st, 2017 at 2:23 PM ^
Mayweather? What does he have to do with Houston?
August 31st, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^
that Mayweather donated 200 million to help Houston.
http://www.snopes.com/floyd-mayweather-jr-donates-after-hurricane/
August 31st, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^
Fook Maywetter
August 31st, 2017 at 2:15 PM ^
Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all weekend!
August 31st, 2017 at 2:35 PM ^
I lol'd
August 31st, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^
UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT:
This is great. Awesome. I have one question though that is only slightly related to the "tragedy" in Houston.
Why don't these gulf states build the proper infrastructure in order to be prepaired for these events? The Netherlands in particular has built numerous causeways and fail-safes to live around the water. I mean we have the ability to get water up to Denver, but seemingly every single year some gulf state is devestated by these hurricanes and the flooding from them. They happen every year! Fix your fucking city! I mean people die all the time because of this stuff and it is completely preventable. If I lived in one of these cities I would be pissed. Raise the money BEFORE the tragedy and get your shit together. The govt. in this country is a fucking joke. /nopolo
/endrant
August 31st, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
I had a long post put together, but the answer is easy... Stupid, but easy.
Can you imagine an American (a texan no less...) willingly giving up waterfront property for the Federal Government to build a levy system or sea wall?
August 31st, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
Houston wasn't/isn't big on more common zoning and land use regulations. Combine that with rapid development and worst storms ever - big problems become really really big problems.
August 31st, 2017 at 6:23 PM ^
the fact is many coastal areas are going to go under water and there will be more of these types of storms.
Insurance companies are already having problems, and the government probably won't be able to continue helping as these situations become more common (NFIP currently owes almost 25 billion to the Treasury and that's before paying for Harvey):
https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/29/16218468/hurricane-harvey-flood-insurance-wildfire-climate-change
"Last year, the chief economist for Freddie Mac, a government enterprise that supports the mortgage market, wrote that increased coastal flooding and storm surges will eventually get so bad that homeowners, unable to sell waterlogged property, will ditch their homes and mortgages, triggering a housing crisis."
August 31st, 2017 at 2:41 PM ^
The Pacific NW is due for a 9.0 earthquake that will kill a lot of people. Some death toll estimates are upwards of 10,000 in the massive tsunami that will devastate the Oregon and Washington coasts.
But nah, let's not spend money on a tsunami warning system or retrofitting and reinforcing vulnerable dams, bridges, and buildings.
I'm with you, Dudeness.
August 31st, 2017 at 4:26 PM ^
There's a simpler solution. Imagine the highest point the Tsunami will hit. Then build everything above that line. I mean can there be an easier solution? Close down everything from seashore to the tsunami line. Prevent people from doing anything in that zone. Problem solved. Tried that approach?
August 31st, 2017 at 6:35 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 2:43 PM ^
You really think hurricanes dumping 50 inches of rain is going to be somehow preventable? What world to you live in, Dudness? The Netherlands don't have to worry about hurricanes in their part of the world. At least not the kind of ones the Gulf Coast experiences. I was in Amsterdam a few years ago when a hurricane hit. I was at the Reichsmuseum at the time and didn't know it occurred. Afterwards there are a dozen or so trees that had fallen into and across the canals. I guess you admire how they prepared for that.
August 31st, 2017 at 2:51 PM ^
Of course the rain isnt preventable, but the floods due to horrible water control management is 100% preventable.
It's not easy and would take some sacrifice, but it would literally save lives and billions in material waste and damage.
These floods shouldn't be considered a tragedy. They should be considered an absolute choice the federal and local government has made to doom these people by not doing anything to build preventitive infrastructure. It's criminal.
August 31st, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^
Another 100 year event this decade. Preventable? Global Warming. Neg away
August 31st, 2017 at 4:16 PM ^
Happy to help. Also I will donate for you to take a statistics class. Let me know when you enroll.
August 31st, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^
You are missing the forest for the trees here, my friend. It is precisely because of attitudes about the federal government - rather than a lack of effective government intervention - that has resulted in this outcome in Texas and similar states. Remember, a substantial portion of Texas despises any kind of "federal intervention" in their state, or even simple local coordination and regulation. Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississipi are similarly "deep red" in terms of their feelings about the feds.
But hey, as Ted Cruz is showing us right now - after trying to prevent Hurricane Sandy funding - they'll put their hands out AFTER the fact and suckle from the government teet, if it helps them keep their voters happy...
August 31st, 2017 at 2:53 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 3:41 PM ^
All of this and we still consider ourselves the "richest country on the planet?"
August 31st, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^
August 31st, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^
As far as the developments built next to the levees, the CORP of Engineers tried to prevent this from happening but $ talks. No new construction should be allowed within a certain perimeter of the levees.
That's all I got for now back to Sheetrock demo.
August 31st, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^
Way to go JJ!
August 31st, 2017 at 3:56 PM ^
Absolutely amazing job by Watt. What he's done has been AWESOME!