*Oklahoma Tornado Relief*

[GarrettF2395]

As many of you know, a large EF5 tornado devastated Moore Oklahoma yesterday afternoon. The mile wide tornado did severe damage to many neighborhoods, businesses, hospitals, and schools that were in the tornadoes 11 mile path.
The only FIRST team I know of in the area of the tornado is team 1742 Shockwave located at the Moore Norman technology center.
Unfortunately, I believe their class graduation was supposed to happen this evening and was obviously canceled. I haven't heard anything about their team members or the safety of other FIRSTers in the area.

Team 2395 is making a plea to the FIRST community, that if there is anyway that you can help, please do. Many emergency response agencies are in need of the supplies and funding needed to help.
In the coming week or so, we will be looking for a location that teams can ship supplies to, so we can then deliver them locally to designated agencies. We will post this information when and if we find a location.
Please also consider donating money to agencies that are helping.
Here are links to donate. Even small amounts will help!

http://www.redcross.org

http://salvationarmyokcac.org/

More than anything though, please pray for the victims involved and for the emotional healing that many people will need after losing so much.

Our community here in Oklahoma has a massive amount of work to do, lets show them that FIRST ready and willing to help!

[Cory]

My understanding is that in disaster relief, money is always better than supplies, unless explicitly asked for supplies. It is much easier for various relief organizations to handle the purchasing, shipping/delivery, and other logistics of the supplies they need in bulk than it is to deal with random items coming in as donations.

[goffchris]

FRC Team 2765 is also in Norman. Neither Norman team has tweeted since the tornado. If anybody makes contact with people from those teams, please post here. We can also coordinate help from the FIRST community when that becomes necessary. Of course, you can already help by donating to the Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/inde...emId=prod60003

[GarrettF2395]

Many organizations have made requests for goods. We will be posting more specifics about what items are needed after we tackle the logistics of getting a shipping location.

I agree with you though, monetary donations are of particular importance for aiding organizations. Which is why we are requesting that people donate to the links provided in the OP.

[GarrettF2395]

Originally Posted by goffchris

FRC Team 2765 is also in Norman. Neither Norman team has tweeted since the tornado. If anybody makes contact with people from those teams, please post here. We can also coordinate help from the FIRST community when that becomes necessary. Of course, you can already help by donating to the Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/inde...emId=prod60003

The good news is that 2765 is primarily located several miles south of Moore. But I will make sure to post any news about teams and family members that comes across my desk.

[GarrettF2395]

Another way to donate is to text REDCROSS to 90999

Link to donate to Feed the Children
Feed the Children

[GarrettF2395]

Originally Posted by goffchris

FRC Team 2765 is also in Norman. Neither Norman team has tweeted since the tornado. If anybody makes contact with people from those teams, please post here. We can also coordinate help from the FIRST community when that becomes necessary. Of course, you can already help by donating to the Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/inde...emId=prod60003

I just got off the phone with our regional director, he says that the only bad report he's heard is that one of our Deans list finalists had some damage done to her home. He was unsure about the extent of the damage, but he did know that the family is safe.

[BKitzrow]

Team 1561 had one of our mentors lose their home in the Moore area. Thankfully, no injuries to his family.

[BSV]

FIRST actually sent out emails to those of us in the OKC area to see if we were okay and offered assistance, and I know they phoned some teams directly in Moore as well. They at least did this for Jr. FLL and/or FLL.

What an outstanding, caring organization.

And I saw a story today on an FLL team in Michigan who was raising funds for Moore. Very cool.