How to Help the Tornado Victims of Moore, Oklahoma

The devastating tornado that rocked Oklahoma on Monday hits close to home and leaves many wondering how to help. 

As an Iowan, living on the eastern edge of Tornado Alley, a humid Spring morning can mean more than just turning on the air conditioning, it can mean a restless night of watching radars and listening for sirens as dangerous storms rumble our way across the Plains.

It can mean helping your neighbor clean up if you are so fortunate to find your own home unaffected the next day. Iowa City experienced this seven years ago as a tornado ripped its way through the downtown, knocking down buildings in its path. Five years ago Friday, an EF5 tornado tore a 43-mile path of destruction in the north east Iowa towns of Parkersburg, New Hartford and Dunkerton, killing eight, injuring 70, decimating a local high school and leaving hundreds homeless.

Patch is about helping your neighbors, and today after the devastation near Oklahoma City where a giant tornado claimed the lives of at least 51 people, including many children, Oklahoma is our neighbor. In addition to hoping the best for the survivors and rescue workers still trying to make sense of the devastation today, here are some links where you can donate your time or money to help the recovery efforts.

Give:

• GOOGLE: Okla. tornado crisis map. Here is a map from Google of the tornado devestation with links for how to help.
• You can donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund 
• Use the Red Cross Safe & Well's site to check on status of family members
• Here is the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website to target your donations directly where they are needed.
• United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Disaster Relief Fund is open and accepting donations. Donations can be made online at www.unitedwayokc.org or sent by mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK  73101. Note that your donation is for May Tornado Relief.
• Contributions can be made securely to the Moore & Shawnee Tornado Relief Fund at www.TulsaCF.org. Donations can also be mailed to the Tulsa Community Foundation offices at 7030 S. Yale, Suite 600, Tulsa, OK, 74136.

Share:

Do you have any experience with a tornado or other natural disaster? What do people need most after going through something like this? Share your tips with us by writing a blog post.

Also, if you know of any local efforts to help the tornado victims drop me a line at stephen.schmidt@patch.com or post in comments and I'll add them to the list.