As violent storms continue to churn across the central United States – already impacting over 64,000 people in the towns of Newcastle and Moore, Oklahoma- our thoughts and prayers are with those people in their path.
Patrick J. Raglow, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, reminds us that –fortunately or unfortunately–Oklahoma is quite experienced with Disaster Response.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City meets regularly with other Disaster Responders in the community, and just last week met to ensure their ability to plug in directly to the response effort.
Catholic Charities plays a well understood and important role in response: Disaster Case Management. Together with other local responders (Red Cross, Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Disaster Response, St. Vincent de Paul Society of our Archdiocese, and more), Federal Emergency Management Agency, Small Business Administration, state and local government agencies, we collectively form a Multi Agency Recovery Center. In the Center, they assess families and individuals, provide direct assistance and connect them with other providers, and enter them as needed into long-term (sometimes lasting 18 months or more) case management to help them through their recovery. As a network, we understand what we need to do, and are ready to do our part.
As this heartbreaking situation continues to develop, Catholic Charities USA is monitoring the situation on the ground and stands ready to help emergency personnel in disaster response and recovery.
Click here to donate to CCUSA to help us provide critical services during this uncertain time.
