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Veteran-led humanitarian organization helping tornado survivors in Oklahoma
Merit Street Media
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May 09, 2024
Oklahoma — A veteran-led humanitarian organization is helping people in Davis, Oklahoma after a tornado tore through there this week.
"A lot of the area was devastated by tornados. We are removing debris, putting tarps on roofs, and boarding up people’s homes. Anything you can think of to support the community, we are there to do it,” said Sean Walker, Director of Branch Operations for Team Rubicon.
Team Rubicon was built to serve global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. They go where disaster strikes, helping those impacted, according to their mission statement.
About 200 miles north of Davis, an EF-4 strength tornado touched down in Barnsdall, killing one person. At least 30 to 40 homes in the Barnsdall area were damaged Monday night, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. It was the second tornado to hit the town of about 1,000 people in five weeks.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who toured the twister’s damage on Tuesday, said he and legislative leaders agreed to set aside $45 million in this year’s budget to help storm-damaged communities.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has cited more than a dozen reports of tornadoes from Monday evening through early Tuesday in the central part of the United States. Eight of the twisters were in Oklahoma, while Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Tennessee all saw at least one tornado.
Across the U.S., the rest of the work week is looking stormy. The Midwest and the South are expected to receive the brunt of the bad weather through the rest of the week, including in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee — cities where more than 21 million people live.
Skies should clear up in time for Mother's Day this weekend, according to the NWS.