Help available for local tornado victims

Tahlequah Daily Press (OK)

Dec. 05--Help is available for those affected by the tornado that tore through the Cherokee County area Friday evening.

But local emergency personnel want victims to be cautious when people coming knocking at their doors, offering their assistance.

"We're asking people to be leery of people just showing up at your door and offering paid services for anything," said Cherokee County Emergency Manager Mike Underwood. "Don't just go with the first person who shows up at your door. Ask for references; ask for a license."

Underwood said there have been reports of people traveling from out of the area to coax tornado victims into clean-up or repair services.

"Try to go local if you can," he said. "There are a lot of local people out there who are more than willing to come and provide services, either free, or if you know you're hiring someone local, they can be contacted pretty easily if they haven't finished up."

Several fire departments and local organizations are offering aid to those impacted by the storm. The Tenkiller Area Community Organization suffered damage to its property, but members are still doing what they can to help.

"The [TACO] building is the only thing we have left," said Cindy Ballew, TACO president. "We got hit really hard and we don't have electricity in the building."

However, Ballew said TACO and the Cookson Hills Center United Methodist Church have clothes and gift cards to Reasor's Foods for those who might need them. She also said Tenkiller Lodge has rooms available for those who were displaced, and victims can contact the Cookson Methodist Church for help by calling 918-457-5717. Cookson UMC is at 21685 W. Cookson Bend Road, in Cookson.

"Don't be afraid to ask, because help is available," said Ballew.

TACO still plans to host its annual Christmas event, but it will be held at the Cookson United Methodist Church on Wednesday, tonight, at 6:30 p.m. The event will have dinner and the low-income individuals who were selected to received gifts from TACO will still get to see Santa and receive their gifts.

Tarps are available at the Cookson Fire Department, at 21642 W. Cookson Bend Road. According to the fire department, individuals trying to clean up should stack all debris next to the road, and should separate natural debris from construction debris. The CFD also released information that those with storm damage can report their losses to the Cherokee County Assessor's Office at 918-456-3201, to remove damaged structures from 2019 tax rolls.

Welling Tri-Community Fire Department Chief Martin Webb said the station and Tailholt Community Building have water for those who need it. The Tailholt Community Building is serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner for victims and relief volunteers. Webb said showers and toiletries are available, adding that Cherokee Nation has employees from its Human Services department set up to accept applications for tribal assistance.

Area residents who want to report damage and loss of property can email Webb at [email protected], including pictures, names, a brief description of the damage, an address and contact info. He also said those impacted by the storm can call him with questions at 918-316-2002.

"Some people haven't come in and we know they've been hit, but we haven't gotten their calls," said Webb. "One of the important things is that we get everybody into the system."

People who still need to report damage may call Cherokee County Emergency Management at 918-456-2894, and they'll be referred to the American Red Cross.

The Cherokee Nation is asking President Donald Trump to declare Cherokee Nation a major disaster area and that federal aid be provided to the tribe to assist in recovery and response efforts. The tribe has already sent out crews from the CN Marshal Service, EMS and Emergency Management-Incident Management Team to affected counties.

Cherokee Nation's Emergency Management-Incident Management Team is asking citizens to report storm damage by calling 918-207-3871 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or by emailing [email protected]. Cherokee citizens should include name, address, contact information, and a description of the damage.

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