Wildfire evacuation shelters opened by the Red Cross in Oklahoma

People across Oklahoma are dealing with the effects of Friday's intense wind and raging wildfires. Communities from western Oklahoma to the northeastern part of the state are under evacuation orders. 2 people were burned in Lincoln County in a grass fire. Crews continue to battle flames even as winds are expected to die down.

LIVE UPDATES: Wildfire outbreak in western and central Oklahoma

LIVE UPDATES: Wildfires, High Winds Cause Major Damage Across Northeastern Oklahoma

The American Red Cross has set up the following shelters for Oklahomans affected by Friday's wildfires.

SHELTERS:

Case Community Center

1. 1050 W. Wekiwa Road, Sand Springs

Payne County Fairgrounds Community Building

1. 4518 Expo Circle E, Stillwater

Luther Community Center

1. 2601 24th Ave. SE, Norman

Grand Casino Grand Eagle Room

1. 18120 Hog Back Road, Luther

Crosspointe Church

1. 2601 24th Ave. SE, Norman
2. Residents below 60th go here

Little Axe Rec Center

1. Hwy 68 and Hwy 9
2. Residents with house numbers 6000+ go here

Lincoln County Fairgrounds

1. 1023 W 15th St., Chandler

Vici Community Center

1. 604 Main, Vici

Stillwater Community Center

1. 315 W 8th, Stillwater

Luther Community Center 

1. 18120 Hog Back Road, Luther

Charter Oak Elem

1. Charter Oak & Douglas

Stillwater Church of Christ

1. 821 N Duck St., Stillwater

Stillwater High School

1. 1224 N Husband St., Stillwater

Sunnybrook Christian

1. 421 E Richmond Road, Stillwater

Community Church

1. Seward & I-35

Senior Activity Center

1. 1015 E. 12th, Stillwater

During a disaster or emergency, you can rely on Red Cross shelters for:

1. A safe place to sleep
2. Meals, snacks and water
3. Health services (for disaster-related conditions), such as: first aid, refilling lost prescriptions, replacing lost eyeglasses
4. Emotional support and mental health services
5. Spiritual care
6. Help reconnecting with loved ones
7. Information about disaster-related resources in the community

Oklahomans can access these services even if they don't need a place to sleep. Anyone with a disaster-related need can visit the shelter to learn about available resources. Everyone is welcome at a Red Cross shelter, and all disaster assistance is free. The Red Cross helps all those in need, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or citizenship status.

The Red Cross does not require people to show any identification to enter a Red Cross shelter; they may just state their name and where they were living before the disaster. The Red Cross is also committed to helping people with a wide range of needs, including people with disabilities and mental illnesses, whether they are children or seniors

Emergencies can happen suddenly, and you may not have time to pack. Your safety is most important – grab your loved ones and get out of harm’s way! However if you do have time to pack, please consider these tips.

Do Bring:

1. Bedding
2. Clothing
3. Medications
4. Your child’s stuffed animal, blanket or other “lovey”
5. Your emergency kit

Don't Bring:

1. Alcoholic beverages
2. Illegal drugs
3. Weapons

Red Cross disaster workers are also supporting firefighters and other first responders as they work to keep communities safe. They are fulfilling requests for nearly 600 meals for first responders so far.

DURING A WILDFIRE

If your community is under threat from wildfires, but you have not received orders to evacuate, it is important to pay attention to your surroundings.

1. Keep track of the weather and fires near you, and listen to instructions from local authorities.
2. Be ready to leave quickly with your Go-Kit.
3. You might not get an official notice to evacuate.
4. Be ready to leave if local authorities advise or if you feel you are in danger.

STAYING SAFE AFTER A WILDFIRE 

Safety basics:

1. Wait for officials to say it is safe before going back home.
2. Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris, and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire. 
3. Avoid damaged or fallen power lines, poles, and downed wires. They can electrocute you.
4. Watch for pits in the ground filled with ash. They may have hot embers underneath that could burn you. Mark them for safety, and warn your family and neighbors to keep clear of the pits.

Clean up safely:

1. Follow public health rules and wear safety equipment.
2. Avoid direct contact with ash.
3. Protect yourself against ash when you clean up. Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks to protect your skin. Wear goggles to protect your eyes. Limit how much ash you breathe in by wearing an N95 respirator.
4. Wash off ash that gets on your skin or in your eyes or mouth as soon as you can.
5. Children, pregnant women, and people with asthma, heart, or lung conditions should not breathe in dust from ash

Tips to stay healthy:

1. Wildfires can make drinking water unsafe. Check with your local health department about drinking water safety.
2. When in doubt, throw it out! Throw out food that was exposed to heat, smoke, fumes, or chemicals.
3. Ask your healthcare provider or doctor about using refrigerated medicines.

Take care of yourself:

1. It’s normal to have a lot of feelings.
2. Eat healthy food and get enough sleep to help you deal with stress.
3. You can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline for free if you need to talk to someone at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs’ to 66746

HOW TO HELP

After a disaster, people are incredibly generous and ask how they can help. Financial donations are the quickest and best way to support people impacted by disasters.

Financial donations to the Red Cross help provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, comfort, financial assistance, and other support to those in need after disasters. You can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting DONATE to 90999.