
The fires consumed this house, and left the shed mostly intact.
You guys may have heard about the wildfires that swept through much of Eastern and Central Oklahoma earlier this month. Over 525 homes and 90,000 acres were burned as a result of a deadly trifecta of extreme heat, extreme drought and gusty winds. When I found out that Samaritan’s Purse had set up a mobile response unit in one of the hardest hit areas, I drove up with my family to check it out.

The mobile response trailers have all the equipment needed to help homeowners clean up after a disaster.
In a little town called Olive (the address is actually Drumright, OK) the First Baptist Church has allowed Samaritan’s Purse Ministries to set up their mobile unit and it’s a perfect relationship. Since First Baptist Olive is a distribution center, families come in for diapers, food, and supplies, and are able to submit a work order to Samaritan’s Purse at the same time.

These owners drive out to leave food for their dogs every day – the pets live in the woods near the burned down home having no where else to go.
Creek County, where the church is located, was hit so hard with 415 houses destroyed – in most cases completely leveled within minutes of the owners evacuating. At one homesite the owners lost all their chickens because they didn’t have time to even open the gates and turn them loose. At another homesite we saw the two dogs who escaped and came back to the home, living in the woods that were left after the fire.

Team lead explains to Sidney how all the scrap metal is stacked into one pile for recycling.
In order to begin rebuilding, the old home sites must be cleaned up. That’s where Samaritan’s Purse comes in. They clear the space where the home goes leaving a clean pad in it’s place. And piles that represent the totally of a life’s memories and items. One pile is all the metal that can be taken to a metal yard, the check left for the owners to recover and help financially. One pile is all the leftover ash and rubble after volunteers sift and sort through everything.

The homesite pad ready for rebuilding.
When we got there the volunteer team was just finishing one job site and getting ready to begin another job. Homeowners fill out a form asking for help with specific things, usually related to clearing the debris and rubble from an old home site. Chaplains are available each day to minister to not only the homeowners, but to the volunteers as well. I can testify that being present in this space takes an emotional toll. (Click to Tweet)

Outlining where everything was on the property.
When we went to the new homesite it was amazing to see how appreciative they were. And how caring the volunteer team was. Walking through the property with them and listening to their stories. “Over here I had a collection of angels that my aunt gave me. And here is where we kept the toys for my grandkids.” Hearing their stories was truly amazing.

This is all that’s left of the entire home.
Seeing the property that hadn’t been worked on yet really hit me hard. The floor frame was visible and bits of the roof, siding, destroyed appliances, and even personal items buried in ashes and melted aluminum drippings.

This was the tricycle that belonged to the grandson of the homeowner.
The team of volunteers will sift through all the rubble, search for any belongings that can be recovered or even returned. Craftsman tools, for example, have a lifetime warranty so unusably burned tools can be traded for new ones if the team recovers them. Masks, gloves, and other safety items are given to each volunteer and they pray as a team before the real work begins.

A mason jar completely melted with bits of burned metal embedded in the glass.
Todd, the project manager, estimates this homesite will take two days to completely clean up. The owners have a new trailer ready to drop as soon as the site is prepared and that will make all the difference in how they’ll be able to begin rebuilding. Replanting. Reuniting with their pets that are staying at shelters in Tulsa and they haven’t seen in two weeks.

Team leads guide the work projects, hand out equipment, and help coordinate volunteers.
If you are able, consider coming out to Drumright, Oklahoma to volunteer. Bring gloves, work clothes, and sturdy workboots and Samaritan’s Purse will provide the training, tools, and equipment needed. You can call Todd at the Oklahoma location at 205-451-5037 and find out if they still have work projects going on, and be sure to register through the Samaritan’s Purse volunteer network to be notified of future opportunities to serve. Half-day and full-day shifts are available and they need hands!

The volunteers begin to clean this homesite for the 4 hours left in the work day.
If you head down there take some of the items that Olive First Baptist said they need in their distribution center too: underwear and sock packages, OTC medications (ibuprofen was top of the list), trashbags, cleaning supplies and soap, indoor and outdoor trashcans, pillows, bedding, and hand tools like hammers, wrenches, etc.

The homeowners made all the volunteers stop for a photo because they felt so blessed by the “Samaritan’s Purse angels” who came to help them.
Showing my children how in the wake of something devasting and scary, people come together to help out, clean up, and pitch in was a blessing. Showing them why it’s important to help others when they are need. Showing them that even if something bad happens, there are good people out there who will help was important to me as a parent.
This is so heartbreaking, but thankful that families in the area are able to go and help. Is there any way to donate money to Samaritan’s Purse? I’m nowhere in the area but thought that some money could help purchase supplies.
Lynette – there is a donation page here if you want to donate money from a distance. ((hugs)) Thank you so much! https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/Project_Donations?pc=13622
So sad — but yes, it is so good to see the community rallying to support one another!
It hurts so much to see the devastation in these photos. So thankful for Samaritan’s Purse for their support.
so glad you have shared Samaritan’s Purse and what they’re doing. We have a heart for disaster relief.
so sad. . .thank you for bringing the stories and the people to me. . .I am always amazed at the way people pull together for disaster relief. . .
Hillary
My mother-in-law died after a fire. Worst nightmare.
I’m so glad to have a way to help the people of Oklahoma.
Thanks for the link to Samaritan’s Purse.
This was such a tragedy for so many people. Samaritan’s Purse does so many good works. I’m sure they helped relieve a lot of suffering.
Wow the pets? The chickens? I know they’re chickens but that made me tear up.
Glad you documented this…
I agree, politics = front page news, but I barely know about your story!?
Many of the livestock that make ends meet for these families were lost. And separated from their pets. In this case the homeowner was able to get the indoor dog, but her outdoor dog couldn’t be found in time and had to fend for himself. He was recovered safely, thankfully.