Disaster Services

While Catholic Charities Disaster Services is best suited to address long-term needs in the community, alongside community partners, Catholic Charities provides relief services directly after a disaster including:

• Emergency assistance funds for food, fuel, clothing and other necessities
• Counseling, outreach and referral services
• Volunteer assistance
• Advocacy for survivors and their family
• These services are provided regardless of religion, race, creed or socio-economic status.

The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in 1995 called for disaster services on a major scale, and staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities joined in to help heal the community through coordination of resources. Since then, Catholic Charities has managed a disaster services program to bring relief for those affected by any type of devastating event.

Severe weather, floods, high winds, wildfires and earthquakes bring many risks and losses to Oklahomans. Recovering from these terrible events can be too much for many to handle, so Catholic Charities helps these families and individuals develop a recovery plan to rebuild their homes and their future.

Those who have been affected by a disaster can turn to Catholic Charities for help with:

- Emergency assistance funds for food, shelter, clothing and other necessities – Counseling, outreach and referral services – Vouchers for financial assistance – Volunteer assistance

These services are provided regardless of religion, race, creed or socio-economic status.

As an active participant in Oklahoma’s chapter of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Catholic Charities follows their model for providing disaster relief. Case managers work with a Long Term Recovery Committee to meet disaster-related needs, coordinating with volunteers to find the best way to utilize manpower, donated materials and monetary donations. This ensures that donations to our disaster services program are used in cooperation with donations to other agencies such as The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Methodist Church and the Convoy of Hope.