Red Cross response update: Oklahoma tornadoes

Terré Gables/KFOR
·4 min read

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Red Cross has released it latest response update as multiagency resource centers are scheduled in southern Oklahoma communities.

The Red Cross leadership on the Oklahoma tornadoes said, “Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives and the communities punished by tornado outbreaks across Oklahoma, the Great Plains and the South. Even as we provide recovery services for people affected by the April 27 tornadoes in southern Oklahoma, we are now responding to meet residents’ immediate needs after a violent tornado struck communities in Osage and Washington counties, including Barnsdall.”

Oklahoma Dept. of Emergency Mgmt. releases storm recovery update

Trained Red Cross disaster workers are operating shelters in affected areas:

  • Osage County Fairgrounds, 320 Skyline Drive, Pawhuska, OK

  • Crossway First Baptist Church, 2108 Broadway Ave., Sulphur, OK
    Shelters will remain open as long as they are needed. With our partners, we are bringing resources to those affected. Hundreds of people in communities across the region were affected, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to bring every available resource to those in need.

As of Thursday morning, the Red Cross has:

  • Assisted nearly 1,100 households with disaster-related needs

  • Served almost 15,00 meals and snacks; more than 3,200 of those have been served in Osage and Washington counties over the past two days

  • Provided about 140 overnight shelter stays

  • Distributed 5,000 relief items

Assessed damage at approximately 1,000 homes throughout impacted areas of Oklahoma
Mobile feeding, emergency supply distribution and residential damage assessment continues in impacted areas of Osage and Washington counties. Meals will be served in shelters for as long as they are open.

In southern Oklahoma, Red Cross service centers are open to help people recover. Caseworkers will help residents whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed apply for financial assistance.

Locations are as follows:

Ardmore Service Center
1006 Northwest Blvd.
Ardmore, OK
May 8–9, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Marietta Service Center
402 W Main St.
Marietta, OK
May 10–11, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Sulphur Service Center
2108 Broadway Ave.
Sulphur, OK
May 8–9, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Only the Red Cross will be present for these service centers. Together with our Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) partners, we have scheduled multiagency resource centers starting Friday, May 10.

Sulphur: May 10–11
Faith Center Church
2630 W Broadway Ave.
Hours: May 10, 1–7 p.m.
May 11, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Ardmore: May 15
Ardmore Heritage Hall
220 W Broadway St.
Hours: 1–7 p.m.

Marietta: May 16
Love County Fairgrounds
500 N Second Ave.
Hours: 1–7 p.m.


SHELTER INFO AND TORNADO SAFETY

Anyone affected by this disaster is welcome at a Red Cross shelter. All disaster assistance is free.

Services offered at Red Cross shelters:

  • A safe place to sleep

  • Meals, snacks and water

  • Health services (for disaster-related conditions), such as first aid, refilling lost prescriptions or replacing lost eyeglasses

  • Emotional support and mental health services

  • Spiritual care

  • Help reconnecting with loved ones

  • Information about disaster-related resources in the community

  • You can access these services even if you don’t need a place to sleep: anyone with a disaster-related need can visit the shelter to be directed to the appropriate resources.

  • Contact the national SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline for free if you need to talk to someone. Call 1-800-985-5990.

HOW TO HELP

Visit redcross.org/donate to make a donation, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation toward disaster relief. The Red Cross does not accept donated goods, but we work closely with local community groups and organizations that do. We suggest calling 211 to be connected to local social service agencies that accept these kinds of donations.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

The American Red Cross is offering financial assistance for those who need help recovering and whose primary residences were destroyed or sustained eligible structural damage. This type of assistance is damage-based.

To be eligible for Red Cross damage-based financial assistance, households apply for the program and meet the following three requirements:

Their pre-disaster primary residence (renter or homeowner) is in a confirmed disaster-impacted geographic area.

Their head of household is able to provide proof of identity and residence.

Their primary residence is assessed to be destroyed or has suffered significant structural damage that requires extensive repairs. A residence that is destroyed is one that is a total loss or with damage so severe that repairs are not feasible.

Many qualifying households will receive an invitation to complete an application through an email, text message or phone call directly from the American Red Cross. Please follow the instructions in the message and call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to enroll, confirm eligibility and receive individual financial assistance.

AAA provides tips when trapped inside a vehicle during severe weather

The phone number the text message comes from may vary.

Emails will come from “American Red Cross” from clientservices@rccare.redcross.org.

The Red Cross also assists those who may face barriers to accessing disaster assistance such as people who do not speak English, are not American citizens, or who have not responded to our initial outreach.

Anyone who needs assistance is welcome to call 1-800-RED CROSS.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.