On Wednesday, May 13th,2009, an EF2 Tornado cut a path through Anadarko, Oklahoma. Although much of the city was affected, the main part of the storm traveled northwest to southeast carrying rain, hail and winds of at least 111 miles per hour. Many residences in the destruction path belonged to members of the Kiowa Tribe.

Shortly after the storm, Kiowa Tribal Chairman Don Tofpi was out viewing the affected areas, visiting Prairie Village and other areas inhabited by tribal members hoping to determine what their needs were.

Early the following morning, quick decisions were made by the Kiowa Buisiness Committee to assist our Kiowa families. Volunteers from the Kiowa Complex in Carnegie were gathered and a Disaster Relief Station was set up at the Kiowa Head Start office in Anadarko. There was no electricity, so generators were brought in.

Since power was out in most of Anadarko, the local media was silenced, also victims of the storm. That made news of the existence of the Relief Station difficult to get out.

After announcements of the Tribe's efforts on a Chickasha radio station and by word of mouth, the response was incredible. By noon that day, applications were being taken to assist Kiowa Tribal members. Countless people poured in for assistance. The Kiowa Casino in Devol transported in several hundred cases of bottled water just in case of water contamination. The water supply was depleted in hours and several hundred more cases were brought in that same evening.

Victims, some not on the Kiowa Tribal Roll, were assisted with cases of bottled water. Many related their stories of Wednesday nights disastrous event, matching stories with other victims. Some joked about having a new skylight in their homes. Others spoke of the fear of what might happen and the terrible sound of the oncoming twister.

Fortunately there were no fatalities, but the damages were many. Kiowa Tribal services immediately began helping remove debris with heavy equipment and manpower.

By Friday evening (only 1 1/2 days after establishing the relief station), the first assistance vouchers were handed out to Elders . Saturday more vouchers were dispersed. The following Monday, applicants who signed up over the weekend received their vouchers at Kiowa-owned Indian City. All in all over 500 vouchers were distributed.

Many Kiowa Complex employees, along with the Kiowa Buisiness Committee, put in much time and effort to aide their fellow Kiowa Tribal Members. Working as a team made this a successful relief effort. Tragedies such as this bring out the caring best in all of us.

"Heaven forbid this happens ever again, but if it does...we'll all be here for one another."

Distributing Vouchers to Tornado Victims

Lined Up for Help

Water for the Needy

TV Interview for Social Services Director