Recovery Workers Warn Tornado Victims Of Scammers

A warning Sunday night about scammers preying on storm victims. Recovery workers in Shawnee say someone is passing out a fraudulent questionnaire to victims of the April 19 tornado outbreak.

“People are vulnerable right now, they've been hurt, these people taking advantage is terrible,” said Patrick Boland, a media specialist with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This is why FEMA representatives warn about scams following tragedies.

“In every disaster, we see people who try to take advantage of people,” said Boland. 

Like one man caught by victims in Shawnee. According to Facebook posts, the man was going door to door with a fraudulent questionnaire asking for personal information. Boland confirmed the questionnaire did not come from FEMA.

“They will never ask you for personal information,” Boland said. “They will not try to store your personal information in any way.”

Boland also said to make sure the person shows their identification to you. However, the best way to get help is at the recovery center on the OBU Green Campus in Shawnee.

“We're all here,” he said. “You can see us in person and in public with everybody else, so this is really the place to deal with people.”

The Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County set up the center as a one stop shop for assistance and has so far helped more than 1,500 households.

“There's lot of help here that's needed to get folks back to where they were, hopefully better than they were before this happened,” said Brandon Dyer, the Executive Director of Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County.

At the center, you can pick up cleaning supplies, food and get matched up with volunteers to help with cleanup.

“Neighbors, businesses, organizations coming together, we have an incredible relationship with each other in this town and to see people really coming together to help each other has been nothing short of miraculous just magical honestly, beautiful,” Dyer said.

The center needs more donations and volunteers, you can sign up in person or online here: https://www.communityrenewal.org/ . Meanwhile, if you see fraudulent activity, contact law enforcement.

The Red Cross has several resource centers available where people can pick up free emergency supplies, water, and snacks:

Cleveland County

12 Corners Baptist Church, 15601 E Etowah Road, Noble, OK

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

McClain County

Cole Fire Department, 27089 Main St., Cole, OK

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Pottawatomie County (organized by Community Renewal)

OBU Green Campus, 1900 W MacArthur, Shawnee, OK

Hours: Mon. - Closed | Tues.-Fri. - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Sun. 1-5 p.m.