help!!! catapiller invasion!!!

My garden is being totally eaten alive with catapillers. Everyone here in Texas is complaining about them. In the evening a plant might look just fine and in the morning nothing but a stem! (reminds me of the grass hopper invasion a few years back). HORDS of butterflies of every shape and color laying millions of tiny eggs and eating everything. My local "Organic" farm store says that Bt is good and organic and no problem even if it gets on your skin when you are spraying. I tend not to trust people who are trying to sell me something....call me a skeptic. But still, what can I do....been picking these little boogers off, but they have me sooooooo out numbered. Is Bt safe???? Any other ideas???? THANK YOU!!!