NEWS RELEASE

May 12, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

CLIFF HAZEL
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
405-275-6060

Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency is responding to the tornadoes that struck Oklahoma on Monday night. Damage has been reported throughout the state and the Governor has declared 56 counties as disaster areas.

“We have people on the ground in each of the six counties we serve working with Emergency Management personnel to support the response efforts,” said Clarissa Sydnor, Executive Director of COCCA. The organization serves people in the counties of Cleveland, Lincoln, Logan, Payne, Pottawatomie, and Seminole counties.

Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins toured the damaged areas in Tecumseh on Tuesday and made a special request that the Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency lead the response efforts in Earlsboro and surrounding communities. COCCA volunteers and staff are coordinating with county officials to determine what is needed and to deliver supplies to county command centers and neighborhoods.

“Right now, we have delivered tarps, lumber, water, and food to families in neighborhoods damaged by the tornadoes,” according to Sydnor. “We will continue to reach out to those families whose homes have been damaged to offer assistance.”

Early Wednesday morning, Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency was awarded a special state grant of $25,000 to help defray some of the costs of the response. “We have begun using this money to purchase emergency items for families that are struggling to obtain supplies to repair the damage to their homes,” said Sydnor. “We do not expect the money to last long because there is so much damage and so many people hurting. We ask that those people who were not affected contribute to support our relief efforts.”

Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency is accepting monetary donations for the tornado response at all of their offices in the six counties. The organization is not requesting donations of items at this time. “There are different needs throughout the area and donations of money enables us to provide the most appropriate response to families suffering from these storms,” according to Sydnor.