Volunteers Still Needed for After Last Week's Tornado Outbreak

By Adrianna Iwasinski, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- While dozens of volunteers have heeded the call for help, hundreds more are still needed to help clean up what last week's tornadoes left behind.

Volunteer organizers said the main things needed right now are people with rakes, people with chainsaws and people with trucks and trailers, but they also still need people with two hands who can help pickup after the storm.

The Oklahoma County cleanup crews are doing what they can, but unfortunately, there's a limit to what they can do.

"Government employees can't go beyond the bar ditches or the easements so we are totally dependent on volunteers to come help gather debris and bring it up here to the bar ditch so government workers can legally take it away," said Brian Maughan, County Commissioner District 2

Another major concern is the fire danger that all the storm damage has created, not to mention the health hazard. Maughan said they don't want a repeat of the dangerous wildfires of years past.

"It may not be a priority. People might not even think of it really that big of an eyesore because it is so far away, but it's all the more dangerous because it's that much more far away from a fire hose, fireplug and fire trucks trying to access it," Maughan said.

And then there's also the stench. The longer all the debris goes unattended, the greater the problem. That's why volunteers are not only priceless, but they save taxpayer millions of dollars.

"I mean they are bringing their own chainsaws, their own pickup trucks, their own trailers. They are helping us haul off," Maughan said.

And the volunteers said they are glad to help.

"We just like to help our fellow men. We like to get involved when there's been a disaster. Many of us have had needs in our lives at time, and so we just like giving back," said volunteer Mike Unruh.

Volunteers are asked to check in at the District 2 Barn at 7105 south Anderson Road, get their credentials to be an official volunteer, and then they will be dispatched out with a group to designated areas.

Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, call 405-713-1502.