In mid-June, an unseasonably strong system of severe storms battered Oklahoma with tornadoes, winds over 100 mph and large hail.

From Lawton to Claremore, nearly 150 homes were severely damaged or destroyed, many because the strong winds uprooted trees, sending them crashing into homes in the middle of the night. The storm also caused widespread damage to the state’s electrical infrastructure. At one point, roughly 300,000 people were without power. For many—including more than 100,000 in the Tulsa metro area—the power stayed off for up to a week as line crews from multiple states worked around the clock to replace broken poles and downed lines.

With temperatures quickly climbing the days after the storms, the Red Cross and partners opened shelters and cooling centers in several counties. But there was another clear need to meet: food.

Several neighborhoods and apartment communities without power were also home to residents who couldn’t leave or couldn’t afford to get somewhere with power and buy food. They were people who were elderly, people who didn’t have a car, people who were struggling to make ends meet.

“The Red Cross does not turn away anyone who needs our help. Sometimes, however, the people who need it most during a disaster can’t come to where we are. Feeding a community in this fashion and on this scale isn’t something we’d done before, but the need was absolutely there,” said Alice Townsend, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Kansas and Oklahoma Region and Executive Director of the Tulsa Area Chapter. “I’m so grateful to the staff and volunteers who made this part of our mission a priority. Their efforts will not be forgotten by the people they helped.”

Over about a week, the Red Cross served more than 15,000 meals to people without power where they lived. Disaster workers on emergency response vehicles picked up hot food and drove routes where they would stop long enough to feed residents in need and see how they were doing.

“A BLESSING”

Clarence Richardson has lived at Tulsa Pythian Manor for four years. The days after the storm were the toughest he can remember. The power was out for five days at the subsidized apartments for seniors. His main source of meals and water was the Red Cross volunteers delivering lunch and dinner in the apartment complex parking lot.

“It’s a big deal” to receive these meals, Clarence said. “The main people who came to help us here have been the Red Cross. This here is a blessing,” he said, pointing to the Red Cross emergency response vehicle.

RETURNING THE FAVOR

Demarco Clayton repeatedly thanked Red Cross disaster workers handing out meals from the window of an emergency response vehicle stopped for lunch delivery at the Savanna Landing apartments. Four days after straight-line winds knocked out power and downed trees at the apartments for low-income families, Demarco’s power returned, though the same couldn’t be said for every resident.

While in line, a homebound neighbor called Demarco’s phone to ask him to grab an extra lunch, which he gladly did.

“We got our power back, so it’s time to help everyone else,” Demarco said. 

“WE’RE GRATEFUL”

Donald Johnson, 60, sported a red shirt with the state of Oklahoma on it as he waited in line with his neighbors for a lunchtime meal of pulled pork sandwiches in barbecue sauce, corn, fruit, potato chips and water, delivered by Red Cross volunteers.

“We’re grateful for this,” Donald said, before grabbing a few extra lunches to help distribute to other neighbors at Tulsa Pythian Manor.

Approximately 30 residents lined up outside their building for the lunchtime meal delivery, though many of them and the building staff brought multiple meals back to other neighbors inside.

THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS

The duo of local disaster volunteers—Jimmy Lindsay, of Red Oak, and Ricardo Diaz, of Edmond—got to know the residents of the apartment buildings they delivered meals to. Jimmy said when they first arrived, with power out and some of the residents unable to leave their property because of the heat and other function or access challenges, “people were calling from the balcony” with their appreciation for the meals, water and support. Residents would line up for meals next to downed tree limbs, and the road into the apartments was active with utility crews and debris removal teams.

Whether we’re helping a family after a fire or feeding residents in need during a prolonged power outage, your financial support makes the Red Cross mission possible. This holiday season, consider turning your compassion into action with a gift to the Red Cross. Visit redcross.org/holiday to get started.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.