The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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September 23, 2005

Enid ready to help

By Scott Fitzgerald Staff Writer



Enid social service agencies are prepared to lend a hand immediately with any damage and displacement of people caused by Hurricane Rita.

"I haven't heard anything yet. We've got a whole database on e-mail. We've got approximately 60 people on the database from the two meetings we've had. If we need to call another meeting, we're ready," said Allan McCobb, executive director of United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma.

The meetings McCobb was speaking about were hosted by Enid Salvation Army and organized by United Way after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf coasts.

Discussions centered on potential areas of need such as shelter, food, transportation and money if storm evacuees arrived here.

Agency representatives and volunteers submitted their names and phone numbers for immediate contact.

Robin Unruh, executive director of Cimarron Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross in Enid, said the agency continues to accept financial donations, volunteers and storm evacuees.

"We're on the standby list," said Unruh, who listens in on Red Cross conference calls each morning.

More than 30 Red Cross shelters in Texas have reported they can temporarily lodge Hurricane Rita evacuees who are leaving the Gulf Coast region.

Red Cross chapters in Oklahoma City and Norman have reported they can take in storm evacuees immediately.

Unruh said arrangements have been made with Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of Enid to establish a Red Cross center at the campus gymnasium if storm evacuees come to Enid.

The Red Cross chapter here has received nearly $85,000 in direct financial contributions.

Lyn Valdez, at Salvation Army in Enid, said a canteen crew deployed to Louisiana from here in the wake of Hurricane Katrina remains in that region providing assistance.



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