WASHINGTON—U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) president, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, has called for prayers and solidarity with those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.  Cardinal DiNardo also called on all people of good will to closely monitor future calls for assistance for victims and survivors in the days ahead.

 Cardinal DiNardo's full statement follows.  

 "Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast in a catastrophic and devastating way this weekend, bringing with it severe flooding and high winds which have taken human life, caused countless injuries, and severely damaged homes and property throughout the region.  The effects of this storm continue to put people in harm's way, with horrific scenes playing out all around, such as those of people trapped on their rooftops as water continues to rise around them.  Many dioceses of the Church in the United States have been affected; many others will be as the storm continues.

 As the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, this crisis hits very close to home.  In solidarity with my brother bishops in this area of the country, I call on people of faith to pray for all of those who have been impacted by this Hurricane, and I ask people of good will to stand with the victims and their families.  May God, the Lord of mercy and compassion, protect all who are still in danger, and bring to safety those who are missing.  May He care in a special way for those who were already homeless, or without support and resources, before this disaster.  We pray in thanksgiving for the first responders who are risking their lives to save others at this very moment.  We include in our intentions the everyday heroes reaching out to help their neighbors in need, those who, like the Good Samaritan, cannot walk by a person in need without offering their hand in aid.

The USCCB is working closely with affected local dioceses, Catholic Charities USA and St. Vincent de Paul, along with other relief organizations, to assess the needs on the ground.  In the next couple of days, we will share more about the best ways to assist those in the Gulf region with material needs based on the latest information we can gather.  May God bless you and your families this day and always."