Salvation Army officers and volunteers are again assisting disaster victims in Oklahoma, this time in the aftermath of killer tornados that cut a swath of death and destruction across the Midwest.
It was the deadliest tornado disaster to hit Oklahoma since 1947. Whole communities were wiped out, with 46 dead and more than 751 injured. In addition, five were killed in Kansas and nearly 150 injured. Damage was estimated at more than $225 million in Oklahoma alone.
The Salvation Army, as always, served food and beverages along with compassionate support to emergency personnel and survivors. In Oklahoma City, The Salvation Army dispatched mobile canteens from throughout the state as well as from Fayetteville, Ark. Fixed-site feeding continued at the Emergency Operations Center in Oklahoma City. Three Army facilities sheltered displaced residents, and blankets, bottled water and other necessities were being distributed. Donation sites were established throughout the city.
The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) established an amateur radio link with Oklahoma City and accepted requests about the health and welfare of loved ones in the area.