Has anyone here been thru a tragedy like the storm in OK?

[cfpinz]

If so, what organization provided the most help to the people (and more importantly, animals) affected?

Thanks.

 

[M5farm]

I have been through several hurricanes and we had a tornado destroy a town here in 06-07? and seeing folks lose their homes to fire the RED CROSS is always the one that shows up first and really tries to help people.

 

[backhoeboogie]

I survived hurricane carla on the Texas coast.

My parents then moved to Alaska just in time for the Good Friday '64 earthquake. The only way off of the Kenai Penninsula was by airplane or by boat.

I was in Paris, Texas in the spring '82 tornado.

I took a direct hit to the house with an F3 in '89.

Then the fire in '90 took out three buildings and essentially everything on my property except my house.

This last tornado just missed me.

Maybe I should start buyng lotto tickets.

The fire of '90 was the worst. I lost fences, barns, equipment and just about everything else except the house and well house. Fire departments cut fences everywhere to let animals live. I had everything you can imagine rounded up in small lots on the east side of my property. Fed animals for several days. Did not know owners for all of them for over 2 weeks. Most were identified immediately and went home as soon as people could rebuild fencing.

All fencing on the north, west, and south side of my place was lost to fire. Compared to my neighborhood, I was lucky to still have left what I had left.

The "organization" I would most count on is my neighbors. They are the first to arrive and perhaps pull you out. They are there when everyone else is gone. You get a major disaster like yesterday and most "organizations" don't even know there was a house on top of that hill. Your neighbors do.

 

[melking]

Wow, Back, You have had a string of bid luck and yet you still seem to be a fairly positive person. To what do you attribute your luck/current attitude?

 

[Anonymous]

04 hurricanes (three of them). But nothing compared to what this tornado did.

 

[skyhightree1]

no tornado just some pretty bad floods from hurricanes as well as hurricane isabel

 

[backhoeboogie]

Wow, Back, You have had a string of bid luck and yet you still seem to be a fairly positive person. To what do you attribute your luck/current attitude?

Actually I have been blessed.

Pinz asked if anyone had been through a tragedy. Many people on this forum have. We have read about it through the years.

My point is neighbors are the folks to count on. They know how many live in your home, your routines, where your cattle hang out etc. They are the first on the scene. They can get your an ambulance if you need it and give explicit directions on how to get to you.

 

[cfpinz]

The "organization" I would most count on is my neighbors. They are the first to arrive and perhaps pull you out. They are there when everyone else is gone. You get a major disaster like yesterday and most "organizations" don't even know there was a house on top of that hill. Your neighbors do.

That's exactly the way it is here, can't remember ever seeing first hand any aid from an organization here after the floods and hurricanes we've been thru. Though I must confess I was not alive when Hurricane Camille hit the area in 1969.

The reason for my question, I'd like to do something to help the folks in OK but want my part to go wherever it will do the most good. Thanks for the responses.

 

[Anonymous]

Pinz
I just talked to my sister. Food water hygiene products clothes are needed and can be covere by a donation to the Red Cross. They also are in a dire need of generators, flood lights, and loaders to help clear debris. If anyone is in the ok city, Tulsa area and could help coordinate that it would go a lonnnggg way

 

[backhoeboogie]

The reason for my question, I'd like to do something to help the folks in OK but want my part to go wherever it will do the most good. Thanks for the responses.

Your character is showing thru pinz. Just how it is.

Got a long list for the local tornado but nothing for OK yet. We have been overwhelmed here. I hope OK folks get the same.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I lived through Hurricane Audry,Carla,Alica,Rita Ike Tropical storm Claudette where it rained 42" in 24 hour's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Audrey
Carla was a bad girl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Carla
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Alicia
Rita through not put out by the media was the most intense Hurricane ever recored in the Gulf.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Rita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike

Claudette was one of the worst due to flooding.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_ ... ette_(1979)

 

[TexasBred]

The reason for my question, I'd like to do something to help the folks in OK but want my part to go wherever it will do the most good. Thanks for the responses.

Cash and gift cards are always great. They can buy what they know they need. But...finding someone or an organization to run them through might be difficult. A call to local churches might help find names etc.

 

[Caustic Burno]

The reason for my question, I'd like to do something to help the folks in OK but want my part to go wherever it will do the most good. Thanks for the responses.

Cash and gift cards are always great. They can buy what they know they need. But...finding someone or an organization to run them through might be difficult. A call to local churches might help find names etc.

This is a good group here they roll in every hurricane, I know there are many others as well.
http://disasterrelief.faithsite.com/con ... 9&SID=1192

Local Church as well as the Mrs. and I have already sent money.

 

[J&D Cattle]

My Pastor at our local United Methodist Church said they will be sending 100% of all donations down to OK. (I guess some organizations take a percentage out for admin and such) Not sure what if any organization they use or if they just work through local OK Methodist Churches. I'll make sure a little extra is in the offering plate this Sunday.

 

[Anonymous]

to those of you that have texting, To donate to the Red Cross text 90999. 25 bucks will be added to your phone bill. This will go a long way towards food, water, clothes, etc.

 

[kenny thomas]

I have worked just after several hurricanes and during several fires across the southern US and I am most impressed by the Southern Mens Baptist Association. They are sometimes there even before the storm has fully passed. They do the cooking for the Red Cross trucks that deliver the food and many times set up feeding stations in each town. They also have trained chainsaw crews to help open the roads.

 

[larryshoat]

My Pastor at our local United Methodist Church said they will be sending 100% of all donations down to OK. (I guess some organizations take a percentage out for admin and such) Not sure what if any organization they use or if they just work through local OK Methodist Churches. I'll make sure a little extra is in the offering plate this Sunday.

Probably going through UMCOR, that is what I have used in the past. I looked this morning on UMCOR website and didn't see anything yet, but that was early. I also heard that Norman Oklahoma had received some of the medical cases, so possibly a church there or someplace close might have an immediate need. I guess if I were not comfortable giving to a large organization I contact a church of my denomination in a near by town.

Larry

 

[Caustic Burno]

I have worked just after several hurricanes and during several fires across the southern US and I am most impressed by the Southern Mens Baptist Association. They are sometimes there even before the storm has fully passed. They do the cooking for the Red Cross trucks that deliver the food and many times set up feeding stations in each town. They also have trained chainsaw crews to help open the roads.

Kenny I agree they did a great job in Rita I was impressed with them and Church of Christ disaster relief as well.
They had eighteen wheeler's rolling in here before the state with relief supplies. The thing I like about both org's most of the dollar is reaching the victim's.
I have seen entire communities wiped clean by storm surge with nothing left.
The big difference is you know it is coming. I have never heard of anything bigger than a F3 spawned out of the Cane's.
Not that is anything to sneeze at it aint no F-5.

 

[highgrit]

The CEO of the Red Cross makes 650k plus expenses per year. And her expenses are almost as high as her pay. Ask some WW II survivors what they think of the Red Cross. The one's I have won't give them a dime. The Southern Mens Baptist Association seems to do a good job.
Some folks around here give their time and money to that association.

 

[Bigfoot]

I lost everything in 2006 to an f3. I literally saved a mattress, and a 4 wheeler. The Red Cross although top heavy with administrative cost has buying power that can't be matched. A dollar donated to them goes a long way. I go out with the Baptist men's orginazation, when I can. We have portable showers etc. lots of man power.

People's immediate needs are met fairly quickly. A donation to either organization will help them be more prepared for the next one.

On one of the most memorable days of my life. I had 95 friends and neighbors working picking up debris on my place. Part of that crew was fencing. I wanted so bad to feed everybody. I had nothing. I was wearing the other mans clothes. The Red Cross pulled up with hot dogs and sodas about lunch time. It was the finest meal I ever ate. Let me add with the best company.