Former Presidents Launch Harvey, Irma Fundraising Appeals

The five living former U.S. presidents have expanded a previously announced national fundraising appeal for Hurricane Harvey victims to include Americans in the path of Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic storm on record, which is projected to make landfall in Florida on Saturday and then move up the eastern seaboard.

Two weeks ago, Harvey parked over Houston for five days, dumping torrential rains on the nation’s fourth-largest city before meandering around the Coastal Bend to thrash eastern Texas and western Louisiana. At least 70 are dead, at least 1 million people have been displaced and an estimated $180 billion in damage resulted over Harvey’s 300-mile path of destruction.

Irma has already left a path of destruction in the Caribbean, leaving the island of Barbuda barely inhabitable and claiming 13 lives, according to media reports.

Watch: Former Presidents Are Joining Forces For A Good Cause

The “One America Appeal” was to launch Thursday with a public service announcement, “Our Friends in Texas,” during the NFL’s regular season opening game on NBC. A second PSA addressing the devastation from the back-to-back hurricanes will launch over the weekend.

To give, go to OneAmericaAppeal.org, where you can also watch the PSA.

The initiative is backed by former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

A special restricted account has been established through the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation to collect and quickly distribute donations to ensure 100 percent of donations go to assist hurricane victims. Donations are tax deductible.

Funds designated to help victims of Hurricane Harvey will be distributed to the Houston Harvey Relief Fund focusing on the greater Houston region and the Rebuild Texas Fund assisting communities across the state. As Hurricane Irma steamrolls toward Florida, efforts are underway to evaluate how the appeal can help those affected by that storm.

Watch the first PSA below.

Photo by David J. Phillip/Associated Press