frequently asked questions
As a team: The team leader can register online with your preferred dates and we will contact you to confirm all the necessary arrangements.
As an individual: Please contact us to find the best way to serve. Often that will be matching you up with an existing volunteer team.
Yes, we will accept donations of construction materials as well as tools and equipment. Please see our donation page to learn more.
Not at this time. With the great need in Oklahoma due to the number of disasters we face, we stay busy year-round right here.
We serve all 77 counties across the state of Oklahoma.
We work alongside the disaster case management process. All disaster survivors we serve come through one of the case management agencies in the state. If your home sustained damages the best way to enter the process is to report your damages with:
- Preparation – the work necessary to prepare your family, home, business, etc. with a plan to protect life and belongings should you be impacted by a disaster. These include safe spaces, go-bags, important documents and valuables, etc.
- Response – the immediate time from a disaster to several weeks beyond that serves the immediate needs of each disaster survivor to include food, shelter, debris clean up, roof tarps, mucking out the home, etc.
- Recovery – begins weeks to months after a disaster when long term recovery committees have been formed, disaster case managers work with disaster survivors on their disaster recovery plan, and homes are repaired.
- Mitigation – the work necessary to minimize the amount of damages that your home and belongings could sustain in a disaster. These include purchasing flood insurance, elevating structures, replacing a roof and outside facades, etc.
Most disasters in Oklahoma are small and do not reach the size and scale necessary for help beyond what the state can provide meaning they are “non-declared” by a presidential disaster declaration.
A “declared” disaster means the size and scale of the disaster has reached beyond the states ability to respond and recover without outside help. Through a presidential disaster declaration the federal governments assistance through FEMA and or SBA becomes available.
Individual Assistance is provided by FEMA directly to eligible individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters.
Public Assistance is provided to state and local governments as reimbursement for emergency protective measures due to disaster related damages.
- FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency
- IA – Individual Assistance
- LTRC – Long Term Recovery Committee
- MARC – Multi Agency Resource Center
- ODEMHS – Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
- OEM – Oklahoma Emergency Management
- OKVOAD – Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
- PA – Public Assistance
- ROAD – Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster
- SBA – Small Business Administration