Disaster Outreach - Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma

Wildfire or Storm Damage?

If you were affected by recent wildfires and need immediate assistance, call our Disaster Line at (918) 935-2650.

RESIDENTS ASKED TO REPORT DAMAGE

To help identify all areas of damage across the state, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management asks residents impacted by wildfires and/or straight-line winds to report damage to their property at damage.ok.gov. Reporting damage helps local and state emergency managers better coordinate response and recovery efforts and can help connect residents to resources. Residents can report damage to homes, businesses or agriculture through the online survey.

Mass care shelters are open in the following areas:

Mannford: First Methodist Church of Mannford, 100 E. Greenwood Ave.
Stillwater: Payne County Fair Grounds, 4518 Expo Circle East

To receive assistance with any disaster, call our Disaster Line at (918) 935-2650 or fill out this form

Other links for reporting damage and seeking assistance:
http://www.damage.ok.gov/
http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

FEMA (800) 621-3362

PLEASE KEEP ALL RECEIPTS OF EXPENSES YOU MAY HAVE INCURRED SO FAR! THIS INCREASES YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING REIMBURSED FROM FEMA FOR THOSE EXPENSE

Provides a range of services that allows individuals, families and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods and wildfires.

Catholic Charities also assists with recover from house fires.

These counties have been affected by tornadoes in the past year and we continue to help them rebuild:

Craig, Delaware, Hughes, Mayes, Muskogee, Nowata, Osage, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Rogers, Washington

These rural communities are struggling to recover and every dollar will help!

Important Information

Services offered

Catholic Charities Disaster Outreach works alongside other community organizations to provide a range of services that allows individuals, families and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. Severe weather in Oklahoma is a frequent occurrence and many people’s lives are impacted. Catholic Charities also assists with recovery from house fires.

For immediate need of food and clothing (in some areas), we are available during our business hours. See our Services page for more information.

Counties served by Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma are: Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, Le Flore, Mayes, McCurtain, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington.

Residents of other counties in Oklahoma should contact Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Oklahoma City at catholiccharitiesok.org or (405) 523-3000 or toll-free (800) 375-8514.

Prepare

At Catholic Charities, we are committed to helping individuals, families, and communities prepare for natural disasters. Our trained staff are available to coordinate preparedness trainings for church groups, schools, businesses, non-profits or anyone interested in learning how to be better prepared for a disaster event.

The Catholic Disaster Preparedness Program (CDPP) is a three-part training that forms the core of our preparedness efforts:

Part 1. Preparing Individuals and Families

Part 2. Preparing Our Parishes

Part 3. Preparing Our Communities

While the training was developed by Catholic Charities agencies and Catholic Charities USA, it is flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of various communities and groups.

To learn more about how Catholic Charities can help you be prepared for a disaster event, email disaster@cceok.org or call our Disaster Line at 918-935-2650.

Respond

In the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma collaborates with federal, state, and local partners to provide assistance to meet the needs of survivors. Examples of assistance include financial aid for shelter, food, clothing, and other basic needs, casework services to ensure survivors are being referred to appropriate resources for help, and coordinating with partners to participate in Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs), one-stop shops where survivors can access multiple resources all at the same time.

Recover

At Catholic Charities, we know that recovery from a natural disaster is a marathon, not a sprint. For survivors who have been through a traumatic event, recovery isn’t always as simple as replacing a damaged roof.

The foundation of our disaster recovery services is disaster case management. Our dedicated case managers listen to our clients’ stories, help them identify their needs, locate resources and assist them in developing a long-term recovery plan that will lead to self-sufficiency. While this recovery process may take time, we are committed to walking alongside our clients for as long as it takes to help them rebuild their lives.

To learn more about Catholic Charities Disaster Case Management Services, email disaster@cceok.org or call our Disaster Line at 918-935-2650.

How do I request help?

If you have experienced a disaster, you may fill out our Disaster Request Form. An experienced disaster case manager will contact you and assist you with your needs.

How do I help when disaster strikes?

1) Volunteer: Volunteers are always needed in times of disaster. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our volunteer interest form and mention you’d like to help with the Disaster Outreach program. Volunteer Interest Form

2) Cash Donations: Cash donations are needed for materials to help people rebuild. We are able to purchase material goods at a much lower cost than the consumer. You may donate directly to our Disaster Outreach program. Click here.

Helpful information

TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE BEFORE A DISASTER

Obtain insurance — make sure you have auto insurance and home or renter’s insurance. If you have been flooded previously, make sure you are current on your flood insurance policy.
Ensure you have back up documents in an alternative location. These should include proof of residency, insurance information, utility company information, birth certificate, and copies of photo I.D.s.
Develop and practice an escape plan with your whole household. Include a location to meet if you are not together during a disaster. Designate a relative or friend in another town or state you can call to check in with, as local phone lines are often down after a disaster.
Create a disaster kit. This should have food and water for at least three days for each person and any pets in your family. Keep a weather radio, first aid kit, hygiene items, flashlights, extra batteries, cash, extra medication and phone chargers in this kit.
If you have pets, keep extra leashes and collars in your disaster kit.
Keep back-ups of photos and special memories. Save personal photos and memories on in a photo sharing app online or in the cloud.
Connect with media outlets a variety of ways — over the air, on social media, smartphone apps, website live streaming, radio or text notifications.
If you take medication: Keep records of your medication, dosage, refill dates and any special instructions with your disaster kit.
If you are warned of an impending disaster: stock up on gasoline, charge electronic devices and charging banks, obtain portable charger.
If you have time, prepare your house! For floods: Clean gutters and drains to avoid water back up, move furniture to higher levels of the house (or out of the house), disconnect appliances, turn off water, trim trees, etc.

ELEVEN THINGS TO DO AFTER A DISASTER

FIRST – report all damage at damage.ok.gov!
Notify your insurance company, if you have insurance. If you have multiple forms of insurance with different providers (i.e., home insurance through one company, but car insurance through another) don’t forget to notify all providers applicable.
Call your utility companies – shut off all utilities immediately if you are not living at your pre-disaster address. Do not assume if your house has been destroyed that the utility companies will shut off your utilities.
Contact 2-1-1 for information on local resources.
Take pictures of all damage caused by the disaster. Take photos of personal property as well as damage to the residence. Document everything that was damaged by the disaster. (i.e. car, appliances, furniture).
Save all receipts for disaster-related expenses. Keep these in a zip-lock bag or grocery bag somewhere secure.
Gather proof-of-residency documents – you will need these for potential disaster assistance. These documents include property deeds, paid property tax, a copy of the lease, mortgage documents, and/or property insurance policy.
Keep all disaster-related paperwork. Have a system (a place to keep things, files or folders, waterproof bags, etc.) to keep ALL of your disaster-related paperwork safe.
Set up your voicemail, and empty your inbox as much as possible to accept new messages from providers.
Connect on social media to stay involved and aware of local resources as they become available.
Create an alternative mode of contact (i.e. a backup email address, family member’s phone number, etc.) for providers.

Our Disaster Case Managers

Ana Angarita
Joseph Bell
Bill Criqui
Jessie Donelson
Tami Exendine
Brad Sellers

Other resources

American Red Cross
(800) RED-CROS (800)733-2767
http://www.redcross.org/find-help

FEMA
(800) 621-3362
www.disasterassistance.gov

To report damage, visit damage.ok.gov.

Contact Disaster Outreach

You may contact us at (918) 935-2650 or fill out the form below and someone will contact you.

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