Published: May 20, 2009 09:52 am      

Salvation Army on the scene in Anadarko

The Salvation Army from Chickasha and Lawton were on the scene 12 a.m. on Thursday, May 14 with a mobile feeding unit after an EF-2 tornado struck a community of about 6,500 in Anadarko. The National Weather Service of Norman originally thought the damage was caused by a downburst, however after the damage was surveyed, the storm was upgraded.

Coffee and snacks were served throughout the night. Due to the storm hitting the community so late at night, there were few residents out early for breakfast.

However, lunch became fast and furious between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., with as many as 30 persons in line. A lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs was served to more than 360 persons including inmates of the city and county jails.

The Oklahoma City Area Command provided dinner and a pallet of water to the shelter that was set up by the American Red Cross. The shelter is located at the Mission Gym near the public schools.

On Friday, the Salvation Army again servee lunch and dinner to the inmates and responders and to those in the hardest hit area where power is not expected to be restored for a day or more.

The Enid mobile feeding unit arrived on Friday morning with a crew to provide the meals.

Captain Frankco Higdon, Chickasha corps officer and incident commander, has been on the scene along with Captain John Murphy, Lawton corps officer since early Thursday.

“Anadarko and Caddo County are very important to the Chickasha Corps and we will be here to serve as long as there is a need,” said Higdon.

The Salvation Army is working closely with local emergency management from the city, county and also with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.