In The News
Truckers gear up to assist Oklahoma tornado victims
Truckers looking
to help with aid and disaster relief following Monday’s deadly tornado
in Moore, OK, have plenty of avenues to help.
Preliminary
reports from the National Weather Service in Norman, OK, suggest that
the storm was rated an EF-4 tornado, with peak winds at 190 miles per
hour. The storm carved a 17-mile path of devastation through suburban
Oklahoma City, blowing apart schools and neighborhoods, leaving a path
of destruction as wide as two miles in some places.
As rescue
workers continue to comb through the debris, relief agencies are
scrambling to provide shelter, clothing, food and water to thousands of
survivors.
Dan Case, president of the Oklahoma Trucking
Association, said his organization has already arranged for the delivery
of three loads of food from a food bank in Indiana.
“The main needs are diapers, water, food,†Case said in a phone interview with
Land Line on
Tuesday. “We’ve got several people here who will take truckloads of it.
Otherwise, there’s not much we can do yet because we still can’t get
into the (disaster) area. It’s pretty well cordoned off by the police.â€
The suburban community of Moore, OK, was among the hardest-hit
locations on the storm’s path. In 1999, Moore suffered a direct hit from
an EF-5 tornado in which the highest wind speeds ever measured – 302
miles per hour – were recorded. Forty-one people died and more than $1
billion in damages resulted from that storm.
Case, a lifelong Oklahoman, said Monday’s tornado was “the biggest and most devastating one I’ve ever seen.â€
“You no longer have a car, you no longer have a cellphone, you no
longer have a home,†he said. “You’ve got the clothes on your back, and
that’s it.â€
The state medical examiner's office Tuesday
reduced its reported death toll from Monday's storm from 51 to 24,
noting confusion during the early aftermath of the disaster.
Spokeswoman Amy Elliott said 51 deaths were reported to the medical
examiner during the early phases of recovery efforts Monday, but the
bodies of only 24 deceased victims had come to the office by the end of
the day. Four of the confirmed fatalities were from south Oklahoma City
and 20 were from Moore, an Oklahoma City official said. At least 237
people were injured and sought medical treatment at local hospitals.
President Barack Obama has already declared the site a “major disasterâ€
and dispatched urban search and rescue teams from Federal Emergency
Management Agency to begin the search for survivors who may be trapped
in the rubble.
The Daily Oklahoman newspaper is maintaining
a list of agencies and businesses that are soliciting donations of
everything from money and shelter, to clothing, blood, and personal care
items. The complete list can be found at the newspaper’s website: www.newsok.com. The following is an excerpted list of relief agencies and donation dropoff points:
RED CROSS
The
Oklahoma Red Cross is asking people to donate by texting Red Cross to
90999, which will be a $10 donation, spokesman Ken Garcia said.
A shelter has also been opened at Saint Andrews Church, S.W. 119th and
South May. The city of Oklahoma City is also using the location as a
reunification site.
The National Red Cross will be moving in 20
response vehicles for feeding and distribution of relief items,
spokesman Ken Garcia said. Trailers with additional supplies are also
being mobilized.
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army Arkansas-Oklahoma Division has dispatched disaster response teams.
Donations can be made to: The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box
12600, Oklahoma City, OK 73157. Designate Oklahoma Tornado Relief on all
checks.
Donate by phone: 800-725-2769.
Donate online
or text: You can also text the word “STORM†to 80888 to make a $10
donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with
the word “Yes.â€*
FEED THE CHILDREN
Feed
The Children is preparing emergency disaster relief supplies and will be
accepting donations from the public on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. at the McCormick Distribution Center, 29 N. McCormick.
Items that will be accepted are diapers, canned goods, nonperishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks.
Feed The Children is coordinating with other organizations and
authorities at the scene to deliver disaster supplies as requests are
received.
Cash donations to help with relief efforts can be made by phone at 800-627-4556 or online.
REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF OKLAHOMA
The
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, in partnership with Oklahoma Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disaster, is asking that the public support all
rescue, recovery and disaster relief efforts with donations of cash to
your favorite responding charity.
Donations of items such as clothing and supplies are strongly discouraged.
Financial donations will allow disaster relief agencies to purchase
whatever items are deemed necessary without resulting in the additional
burden of securing warehouse space and volunteers to work donated
product.
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, go online or call 405-604-7111 or text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts.
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF
With
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams already responding to severe
weather from Sunday in several locations, including Shawnee, Edmond and
Little Axe, Oklahoma Baptists are assisting with recovery efforts from
the tornado that hit Moore.
Those interested in helping can make a tax-deductible donation to the BGCO’s Disaster Relief ministry online
or by calling 405-942-3800.All monies go toward disaster relief and
helping victims. For photos, information and updates, visit the Oklahoma
Baptists’ blog at www.okdisasterhelp.com.
OKLAHOMA BLOOD INSTITUTE
Donors
to the Oklahoma Blood Institute provide blood needed by patients in all
metro-Oklahoma City hospitals and 140 others across the state.
Presently, the state’s blood supply is adequate to meet the needs of
patients in all hospitals caring for victims of the Moore tornado. This
is thanks to blood donors who have given in the past week.
Since there is no substitute for blood, the supply constantly needs to
be replenished. Anyone 16 years or older and in good health can
generally donate blood. Those with O-negative and Rh-negative blood
types are most needed.
Locations of donor centers and mobile blood drives can be found at http://obi.org/.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The
Oklahoma City-County Health Department is asking that people who want
to volunteer to help with disaster relief in the OKC-Moore area go to
the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC) website at www.okmrc.org.
OKMRC is designed to bring together different healthcare-related
organizations and members of the community, including physicians,
nurses, public health workers, and other medical professionals. In
addition, volunteers without a background in medical training are
needed.
To volunteer, go online and click on “OKMRC Inquiry.â€
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working through local
United Methodist churches and trained disaster response workers to
provide immediate relief, assistance with cleanup and rebuilding,
pastoral counseling and support for children and youth who have been
through trauma.
To donate or receive more information, go online.
SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA
Science
Museum Oklahoma is serving as a dropoff point for relief donations.
Citizens may donate bottled water, Gatorade-type sports drinks, diapers,
baby wipes, baby formula and canned foods at the museum box office
during operating hours.
Science Museum Oklahoma is located at
2100 N.E. 52nd St. in Oklahoma City and is open to the public 9 a.m.-5
p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays.
Residents of Shawnee and Moore who were displaced by the tornadoes will
be given free museum admission through Friday. For more information,
call 405-602-6664 or visit www.sciencemuseumok.org.
OPERATION BLESSING INTERNATIONAL
A
domestic disaster relief team from Operation Blessing International,
one of the largest humanitarian organizations in America, is en route to
Moore with a construction unit, mobile command center, trucks full of
tools and supplies and a team of construction foreman.
To donate to the relief effort or for updates, go online.
CONVOY OF HOPE
The
international humanitarian relief organization has sent a team to Moore
with supplies from its World Distribution Center in Springfield, MO.
To make a contribution, go online to www.convoyofhope.org. Donate $10 via cell phone by texting the word CONVOY to 50555.
CROSSPOINTE CHURCH
CrossPointe
Church is opening up its community center to volunteers from other
areas who are coming to help with relief efforts and need a place to
stay. If you are sponsoring a group coming to help, call Brandy White at
405-329-5405 to make arrangements.
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
United Way of Central Oklahoma's Disaster Relief Fund is open. Donations may be made online,
by phone at 405-236-844,1or by mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma,
P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK 73101 with notation for May Tornado
Relief.
Funds will be distributed without administrative fees to United Way Partner Agencies working on the tornado relief efforts.
TULSA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Contributions to the Moore & Shawnee Tornado Relief Fund can be made securely online at www.TulsaCF.org. Donations can also be mailed to TCF offices at 7030 S. Yale, Suite 600, Tulsa, OK, 74136.
CROSSINGS COMMUNITY CHURCH
Crossings
Community Church, 2208 W. Hefner, is now a donation site for bottled
water and energy/sports drinks; nonperishable items, including protein
and granola bars, diapers and work gloves. Drop off items between 7:30
a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays. Also, financial donations can be made online
at crossingsokc.org/giving.
Sign in or create an account, select “missions†and then select
“disaster relief fund†to send your donation directly to tornado relief.
LAKEHOMA CHURCH OF CHRIST
Lakehoma
Church of Christ, 2124 W. State Highway 152 in Mustang, will be
accepting donations of rescue supplies and personal items from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Wednesday. The donations collected will be donated to the
American Red Cross. Requested items include water, Gatorade, blankets,
pillows, shovels, gloves, non-perishable food items, toothpaste,
toothbrushes, shaving cream, diapers, shampoo, conditioner, baby food
and body wash. People can also bring donations after 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Donations will go to the Red Cross. For more information, call
405-376-2883.
QUAIL SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH
Quail
Springs Baptist Church, 14613 N. May, is requesting donations of water,
Gatorade, wipes, individually wrapped snacks, hand sanitizer, diapers,
baby formula, hand towels, work gloves and sunscreen. Items can be
dropped off on the north side of the building. Checks can be made
payable to QSBC Storm Relief. For more information, call 405-755-9240.
OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET
The
Oklahoma City Ballet, 7421 N. Classen, is accepting donations of baby
wipes, paper towels, gallons of water, individually wrapped snack and
food items and work gloves. Dropoff hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Donations will also be accepted from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Oklahoma
City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder. For more information, call
405-848-8637.
CLEVELAND COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Cleveland
County Habitat for Humanity will have a trailer at Lowes, 2555 Hemphill
Dr., in Norman, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday to take in
donations of supplies for the tornado victims. They are asking for
supplies that include trailer water, food, formula, hygiene items, etc.
For more information, please contact Linda at Cleveland County Habitat
for Humanity at 405-360-7868.
LOST AND FOUND
If
anyone finds photographs lost from homes in the tornado, save them and
spread the word. For information about preserving photos, go online to Operation Photo Rescue.
If you have a found item that you’d like to share, try posting it here: www.facebook.com/MooreTornadoLostAndFound.