Disaster Relief Efforts In Oklahoma

I was three hours into a class yesterday when I noticed a little more cell phone activity than usual. I finally asked and one of the officers and he told me that “Moore had been leveled.”

It took a few minutes for that to reach me. Moore, Oklahoma was the victim of a devastating F5 tornado in 1999 that killed 41 people. It was hard to imagine anything like that could happen again.

Since that time, I had become involved in a Disaster Relief Team with a Ministry I was involved in called Ten-Four Ministries. In the last few years we had partnered with my good friend Scott Barthelmass and his organization, the Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Assistance Team, when devastation his areas around us. We had been in Joplin & Alabama just two years ago and we had learned a lot about what was needed and we had also learned that many of the basic needs of the First Responders were not always met. It seems that these heroes in the ruble took care of everyone else and sometimes their own family needed that same help.

I walked out of class yesterday afternoon and my phone was in shock with all of the messages. After seeing the identical images I had seen a few years ago in other cities, it was time to do something. I knew Scott would be calling and he did.

It is early and the “fog” of the situation makes it not at all clear of the specific needs but we do know that one Moore Officer has lost his home and vehicles and we also know that many more will be affected as the information comes to us. We want to help as much as possible.

Monetary donations can be sent here.

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/travis-yates-2/moore

Donations are tax-deductible and as we did in Joplin & Alabama, we will take the proceeds directly to the first responders in need. Many of us think that insurance companies or organizations set up tents and hand out money to those in need. That is simply not what we found weeks after other devastating events. We found the need great in those locations and being able to hand a first responder that has lost everything funds to help them with a hotel or groceries can go a long way.

We are also working with several great companies in providing BDU’s, boots, rain gear, safety vests and gloves to the first responders. This will help them do their job and we are thankful to Flying Cross, Blauer, Rocky Boots, Safariland and many others for helping us make this happen.

We also know that we will need much more in the days to come. If you would like to send Boots, Gloves or BDU’s to those in need please ship them to the following address:

Special OPS Uniforms
C/O Mr. Mitch McIntire
2921 NW 10th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73107

I am thankful to be in a profession that takes care of our own & I am grateful to play just a small part in that. Thank you for your prayers and generosity for this horrible event in my home state.