Oklahoma City Wildfires: Here's How You Can Help Or Get Help

Wildfires damaged or destroyed numerous homes Friday in the Oklahoma City metro area. News 9 is gathering information about how you can help those who need it most.

The state emergency operations center has been activated. The Red Cross is working to provide evacuation centers for residents and canteen support for first responders in counties including Oklahoma, Lincoln, Logan, Dewey, Kingfisher, Washington and Osage.

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To donate to the American Red Cross, you can give online:

Visit RedCross.org/donate

Select “Your Local Red Cross” from the pull-down menu

You can also donate by phone at 1-800-RED-CROSS and designate your gift to your local Red Cross.

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The Waterloo Road Church of Christ, at 4400 E. Waterloo Road, is opening its doors in case people need refuge from the fires.

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The Lazy E Arena has opened its doors for those in the area who need it.

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Generations Church at 2524 W. Noble Ave. in Guthrie is open for anybody who need help or somewhere safe to stay.

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This is what the Red Cross has to say:

Throughout the day, Red Cross disaster workers have supported wildfire response in the following counties: Blaine, Cleveland, Dewey, Ellis, Grant, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Payne, Oklahoma, Osage and Washington. This has included providing water, snacks and meals to more than 300 Oklahoma first responders in all. We continue to work with emergency managers and other local officials to assess and meet individual communities' needs.

The Red Cross has supported one evacuation center in Bartlesville at Town & Country Christian Church. We are working with officials there to determine whether it is needed for overnight shelter. Residents are being allowed back into many areas across the state that were evacuated today, and the Red Cross has not been called upon to support any additional sites thus far.

Be Red Cross Ready.

Today's wildfire outbreak in Oklahoma and severe storms across the South and Midwest are reminders of how important it is to be prepared for emergencies. We still have a long severe weather season ahead. By having an emergency plan and kit, your family can react quickly when a disaster strikes with little to no notice. Getting prepared for disasters is easier than you may think. Your family can prepare by taking three simple actions: 

1) Get a Kit. 

2) Make a Plan. 

3) Be Informed. 

Your emergency kit should contain supplies for at least three days, including a gallon of water per person per day, nonperishable food, a flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit, medications and copies of important documents. Don’t forget to grab items, such as diapers, for young children, and any supplies for family members with unique needs. Don't forget items your pets will need.

Make sure to have a plan in case you are separated from your family during an emergency or if you have to evacuate. Coordinate your plan with your child’s school, your work and your community’s emergency plans.

Stay informed about what disasters or emergencies may occur where you live, work and play, and how to respond as safely as possible. Find out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information. Take a first aid, CPR and AED course (redcross.org/takeaclass) so you’ll know what to do in case help is delayed.

You can help.

The best way to help people affected by disasters like today's wildfires and tornadoes is by making a financial donation. Donations to the Red Cross help provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance during disasters. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.