Stan Bradley, Bridge Creek, checks his list as he works to call out assessors after the March 25 tornadoes that hit Moore and Sand Springs (Photo: Bob Nigh)
Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma disaster relief volunteers sprang into action immediately the evening of March 25 as deadly tornadoes swept across central and northeastern Oklahoma.
Trained assessors and chaplains were out determining needs within the hour after tornadoes struck Moore and Sand Springs, where one person was killed. News reports indicated more than 50 mobile homes were destroyed in the River Oaks Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs.
BGCO DR state training director Dave Karr, acting in behalf of state DR director Sam Porter, who was in Europe, said he had dispatched the BGCO’s mobile command center to be set up at The Church That Matters in Sand Springs.
From right, BGCO disaster relief official, Clay Steelman, and volunteer damage assessment coordinator Darrell Knapp, discuss disaster relief plans on March 26. (Photo: Brian Hobbs)
“Pastor Rusty Gunn has graciously offered us the use of the church’s parking lot,” said Karr, who initially set up an Oklahoma City-area incident command post at the Baptist Building. Jim Sheets from Bartlesville was acting as Incident Commander in Sand Springs.
Karr said BGCO volunteers probably would be involved in chain saw, mud out and roof-tarping work in both areas, depending upon what assessors find as they worked through the days following the aftermath of the storms.
The BGCO disaster relief operation may receive tax-deductible donations. Visit www.okdisasterhelp.com/donate to donate or more information.