Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund

In Moore, Oklahoma, the most destructive tornado of 2013 changed the lives of hundreds in a matter of minutes. 1.1 miles across at its widest, the disaster ripped through the community causing billions of dollars in damages and taking 25 lives. It’s times like this that bring a distraught community together to build a better future. This is exactly your donations are helping with, ensuring a bright future for the families whose homes were destroyed or whose loved ones were lost. GlobalGiving has teamed up with some amazing on-the-ground organizations who are serving those who lost everything. The two organizations are still building and working almost a year later. This dedication inspires us here at GlobalGiving! Here are just two examples of this inspirational dedication.

The first organization committed to helping those affected by the tornado is Do Your Part Inc. With the funds that they receive from GlobalGiving, Do Your Part has been able to buy and build fencing for peoples properties. These fences are vital to reestablishing animal pens which families use for their livelihood. Also, a small family of three was given a fresh start thanks to their new apartment which you helped fund! Thanks, for this family’s new beginnings and for countless others too!

The second organization which this GlobalGiving fund benefits is “Rebuild Moore -- Oklahoma Tornado Reconstruction” implemented by Architecture for Humanity. This project is hands on and absolutely committed to long term reconstruction. Right now their project is focused on creating lasting partnerships and building schools that will be safe in case of future such disasters. Two schools laid in the path of the Moore tornado and both were leveled to the ground.  Architecture for Humanity strives to build more tornado resistant buildings and they are teaming with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Oklahoma’s Office for Emergency management (OKOEM) to help them.

The partnership will work on long term reconstruction efforts and will empower members of the community to actively engage in their own recovery programs. One of these programs is the Safe Schools 101 initiative which trains local architects and engineers in assessing the the ability of schools to withstand tornados. They are trained to recognize if the buildings are not up to FEMA regulatory standards and how to remedy this. This program has been implemented all over the state of Oklahoma and it can be available nationwide if you sign up here!

Clearly there is still ongoing recovery efforts, even so many months after the disaster. While this disaster was tragic and devastated hundreds of lives, the support that you have provided has given people hope and the brightest future possible! GlobalGiving thanks you on behalf of all those affected by the Oklahoma Tornados!

Dear GlobalGivers,

Nearly four months after the 2013 Moore tornado, which killed 23 people and injured 377 others, the people of Oklahoma continue to recover in the face of adversity. Your contribution took a huge weight off their shoulders, allowing many to begin a speedy recovery. Several GlobalGiving partner organizations were able to respond to the needs of these people thanks to your donation, here’s what some of them were able to accomplish:

• K.I.D.S Oklahoma Relief Efforts (Kids in Distressed Situations) allied with Fashion Delivers and distributed new apparel and home items to more than 1,000 school children and family members affected by the tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma. Burlington Coat Factory also provided 10 pallets of merchandise, while BOBS from Skechers and Shoe Carnival donated 3,000 pair of children’s shoes. The companies’ employees also volunteered to set up and staff the event. The remaining merchandise from the event was given to local charities serving tornado victims in Pottawatomie County and the Oklahoma City area. There were also 200 fifty-dollar Burlington gift cards delivered to these charities. Together, K.I.D.S and Fashion Delivers distributed approximately $7 million worth of merchandise to partners and organizations helping Oklahoma tornado survivors. 

• Do Your Part has assisted in rescuing horses and reconnecting them with their families. They have worked with veterinarian hospitals and clinics to get medical supplies for these animals. Do Your Part has also purchased fencing materials, flooring, insulation, and materials for a handicapped ramp, for volunteers to install. The organization has also established a Facebook page where people can get and offer help. For the moment, they are working on a water line project, which was destroyed during the storm. Gift Cards for families to get food, gas, clothes, and school supplies were also distributed.  

• Architecture for Humanity has been assisting communities, meeting local authorities, and assessing the emerging needs and long term priorities of the towns affected by the tornado. The work in these afflicted areas mainly consists of debris removal, mostly from residential neighborhoods. City crews and other contractors continued removing debris through July and August. The organization has also a strong presence on the ground, where veteran volunteer Tommy Stewart has been meeting with other organizations and individuals involved with the recovery efforts and assisting with post disaster damage assessments for homeowners. Mr. Stewart has also been liaising with the Long Term Recovery Committee for the May 18-June 2, a committee that recently acknowledged that its members are still involved with immediate family and individual needs, and that the long term reconstruction talks are far from now.  

• GlobalGiving’s support to the American Humane Association allowed its Red Star Animal Emergency Services team to provide humane intervention to the impacted area in order to deliver values of compassion, care, and hope. The Red Star team stayed in Oklahoma for 30 days - the longest deployment since Hurricane Katrina. They were able to rescue and shelter more than 200 animals, reunite nearly 100 of them with their families, and place some with rescues and get many into good, loving homes during an Adopt-a-Thon. Last, the team assisted the City of Moore on writing an animal disaster plan for future emergencies. Training courses about basic knowledge of disaster response were given in the area in order to build a better responder base in the community. 

Thank you for your contribution to the Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund. Your kindness allowed for these organizations to quickly mobilize and helped those who needed it the most, offer training courses in disaster relief, and helped animals reconnect with their families.

We will keep you updated in the following months; however, feel free to let us know if you have any questions or thoughts in the comment section below.

Thank you.