Catholic Charities Disaster Outreach works alongside other community organizations to provide a range of services that allows individuals, families and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. Severe weather in Oklahoma is a frequent occurrence and many people’s lives are impacted. Catholic Charities also assists with recovery from house fires.

For immediate need of food and clothing (in some areas), we are available during our business hours listed by location at https://cceok.org/services.

Counties served by Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma are:  Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, Le Flore, Mayes, McCurtain, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington.

Residents of other counties in Oklahoma should contact Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Oklahoma City at https://catholiccharitiesok.org/ or (405) 523-3000 or toll-free (800) 375-8514.

In the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma collaborates with federal, state, and local partners to provide assistance to meet the needs of survivors. Examples of assistance include financial aid for shelter, food, clothing, and other basic needs, casework services to ensure survivors are being referred to appropriate resources for help, and coordinating with partners to participate in Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs), one-stop shops where survivors can access multiple resources all at the same time. 

If you have experienced a disaster, you may fill out our Disaster Request Form. An experienced disaster case manager will contact you and assist you with your needs.

TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE BEFORE A DISASTER

1. Obtain insurance — make sure you have auto insurance and home or renter’s insurance. If you have been flooded previously, make sure you are current on your flood insurance policy.
2. Ensure you have back up documents in an alternative location. These should include proof of residency, insurance information, utility company information, birth certificate, and copies of photo I.D.s.
3. Develop and practice an escape plan with your whole household. Include a location to meet if you are not together during a disaster. Designate a relative or friend in another town or state you can call to check in with, as local phone lines are often down after a disaster.
4. Create a disaster kit. This should have food and water for at least three days for each person and any pets in your family. Keep a weather radio, first aid kit, hygiene items, flashlights, extra batteries, cash, extra medication and phone chargers in this kit.
5. If you have pets, keep extra leashes and collars in your disaster kit.
6. Keep back-ups of photos and special memories. Save personal photos and memories on in a photo sharing app online or in the cloud.
7. Connect with media outlets a variety of ways —  over the air, on social media, smartphone apps, website live streaming, radio or text notifications.
8. If you take medication: Keep records of your medication, dosage, refill dates and any special instructions with your disaster kit.
9. If you are warned of an impending disaster: stock up on gasoline, charge electronic devices and charging banks, obtain portable charger.
10. If you have time, prepare your house! For floods: Clean gutters and drains to avoid water back up, move furniture to higher levels of the house (or out of the house), disconnect appliances, turn off water, trim trees, etc.

ELEVEN THINGS TO DO AFTER A DISASTER

1. FIRST – report all damage at damage.ok.gov!
2. Notify your insurance company, if you have insurance. If you have multiple forms of insurance with different providers (i.e., home insurance through one company, but car insurance through another) don’t forget to notify all providers applicable.
3. Call your utility companies – shut off all utilities immediately if you are not living at your pre-disaster address. Do not assume if your house has been destroyed that the utility companies will shut off your utilities.
4. Contact 2-1-1 for information on local resources.
5. Take pictures of all damage caused by the disaster. Take photos of personal property as well as damage to the residence. Document everything that was damaged by the disaster. (i.e. car, appliances, furniture).
6. Save all receipts for disaster-related expenses. Keep these in a zip-lock bag or grocery bag somewhere secure.
7. Gather proof-of-residency documents – you will need these for potential disaster assistance. These documents include property deeds, paid property tax, a copy of the lease, mortgage documents, and/or property insurance policy.
8. Keep all disaster-related paperwork. Have a system (a place to keep things, files or folders, waterproof bags, etc.) to keep ALL of your disaster-related paperwork safe.
9. Set up your voicemail, and empty your inbox as much as possible to accept new messages from providers.
10. Connect on social media to stay involved and aware of local resources as they become available.
11. Create an alternative mode of contact (i.e. a backup email address, family member’s phone number, etc.) for providers.

(918) 935-2650

disaster@cceok.org