As Texas endures a historic winter storm that has left millions without power or safe drinking water for days, two of the state’s HBCUs are stepping up to help residents out.
Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University, the state’s two largest HBCUs, are working to ensure their students are taken care of during the aftermath of the consistently below freezing temperatures.
In the midst of the crisis, the schools have made food and water readily accessible to their students who live on and off campus. Given the bare grocery shelves and long lines at the few fast food restaurants that are open, the food and water is extremely useful at this time.
Prairie View, which is located just north of the hard-hit Houston, has turned areas of campus into warming centers and has opened its doors to students and residents of Prairie View who may need help.
Similar help was given at Texas Southern which is located in Houston. The campus is closed and classes have been suspended, however the university provided shelter and water to those in need during the storm.
They also handed out food and other resources to their students.
The need in Texas is great even as power comes back online for many households. The supply of safe drinking water is dwindling in the state, which triggered a declaration of emergency for the state at the federal level.
Officials in Houston and across the state are hopeful that warmer weather will help ease the burden placed on the delicate power and water systems.
Until then, the actions taken by Texas Southern and Prairie View are both necessary and a testament to the community-focused aspect of HBCUs.
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