As the skies are predicted to turn ominous this afternoon across Oklahoma, our Red Cross teams are fanned out across many of the affected areas making sure that residents know about the weather threat. For so many, they have no real structures left, and all of the damaged homes are without power which means they will not be hearing weather warnings.
Additionally, Red Cross disaster mental health workers are talking to these same families about how to cope with today’s weather threat, and how to cope with the trauma of the storms well into the future.
Items distributed today include boxes, shovels, gloves, trash sacks and meals. These items can be found at shelter locations and on ERV traveling through affected neighborhoods. These same Red Cross services are being delivered to damaged areas of Blackwell and Ardmore.
Check out the latest update on how we are serving communities affected by severe floods and tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
This story is written by Anita Foster, spokesperson from the Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter. She is currently deployed to Oklahoma to assist in disaster recovery efforts.
Over the years, I’ve seen tornado damage more times than I can count. But I will say this. You never get used to seeing peoples lives literally blown apart.
We spent the day yesterday in an area called Choctaw. You could tell that the neighborhood was tight-knit right away, and that they were all in a state of shock.
One woman was in her driveway when we approached. Her husband, an active duty Air Force member home on leave, was in the hospital recovering from his injuries. She told how he had survived several tours of duty in Iraq, but got injured in his own home due to a tornado.
Oklahoma – Over a dozen tornadoes touched down and destroyed homes and structures, damaged others, closed roads and left thousands of local residents without power on Monday. Multiple injuries and deaths were reported.
The Chapters deployed Disaster Action Teams, staffed the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC), opened shelters and provided Mass Care for shelter residents and first responders.
Strong winter storms that brought ice and snow to several states including Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
since Friday caused power outages to thousands of local residents, closed roadways and stranded travelers. Several State of Emergency declarations were made.
Oklahoma – Winter storms continued to cause power outages to local residents and road closures that stranded travelers throughout the state since Friday. The President declared a State of Emergency for Oklahoma. Chapters deployed Disaster Action Teams (DAT), opened 12 shelters, provided Mass Care or partnered with other organizations to provide Mass Care (MC) for hundreds of residents as well as stranded travelers and staffed or contacted Emergency Operations Centers to assist as needed. As of midnight, February 1st, there were 456 shelter occupants.
Oklahoma – A dangerous winter storm caused road closures and power outages to over 100,000 residents throughout the state on Thursday. The Governor declared a State of Emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties.
The Southwest Oklahoma Chapter opened 4 shelters in Kiowa, Greer, Harmon, and Jackson Counties and provided Mass Care (MC) for dozens of affected-area residents and stranded travelers. At midnight, 1/29/10, there were 39 shelter residents.
Volunteers were at the state Emergency Operation Center and resources were prepositioned.
Oklahoma – A dangerous winter storm is headed for the state. Last night the Governor declared a State of Emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties as state emergency management continue their emergency response preparations. The declaration was necessary to waive weight and size limits on state roadways to allow heavy power company vehicles to positions themselves at vantage points across the state.
The Oklahoma chapters are in contact with Emergency Management, monitoring the situation and providing updates to the Disaster Operations Center (DOC).
Oklahoma – A single-engine plane crashed in Oklahoma county on Saturday. The Central Oklahoma chapter placed Disaster Mental Health(DMH) on standby and provided food and water to emergency responders and law enforcement personnel.
Oklahoma - An ammonia pipeline leak in Pawnee County caused dozens of local residents to evacuate the area on Saturday. The Tulsa Area chapter dispatched a Disaster Action Team (DAT), opened a shelter, and provided snacks, fod and water to the shelter residents and emergency responders.
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