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It has been almost a month since evacuees from New Orleans arrived in Northeastern Oklahoma for relief from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
 While many organizations are leaving, the Disaster Response Program of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference continues to be a vital part of the relief efforts at the Camp Gruber National Guard site near Braggs, Oklahoma.
OIMC was present at Camp Gruber within hours after the displaced persons arrival at the site. Phillis McCarty, Disaster Response Coordinator, received a call from Dr. Robert Duncan, with the Muskogee area Emergency Response Organization. He had talked with Mr. Tom Hazelwood, with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) asking for assistance. Tom Hazelwood then asked the emergency officials to contact the Disaster Response programs of the OIMC and the Oklahoma Conference.
Rev. Anita Phillips was asked to attend a meeting and briefing at Camp Gruber that afternoon on behalf of the OIMC and she has been present at the site since that date, serving as the person responsible for recruitment of volunteers and the enlistment and deployment of local churches and organizations, along with other responsibilities. Rev. Phillips had recently been appointed to Fife Memorial UMC in Muskogee, Oklahoma and also as the Dean of Students at Bacone College at Muskogee, Oklahoma.
“I felt this was a God-thing, that I was called to help out in this way,” said Rev. Phillips. “I realized that God has a reason that I was to be appointed to this church and ministry in Muskogee,” she said. Muskogee is about twenty miles from Camp Gruber and Anita lives about fifteen miles from the camp.
Approximately 1,800 persons were originally sent to Camp Gruber late Saturday night, September 3, from the Superdome in New Orleans. Camp Gruber is a training site for the Oklahoma National Gaurd and its facilities could hold a large number of persons. As of September 22, approximately 350 persons remained at Camp Gruber.
The Oklahoma National Guard and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol were given the authority to run the day to day operations of the camp. Rev. Phillips operated under the auspices of the OIMC and the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The operation later became known as Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), which would include all churches and organization wanting to help. Rev. Phillips and Mrs. McCarty each spent about four days at the site, relieving each other after many long hours.
The OIMC Disaster Response Program quickly dispatched clergy and lay persons to the scene on Monday night and Tuesday following the arrival of evacuees. Seven OIMC pastors were on hand Tuesday as evacuees tried to make phone calls regarding their relatives. Many received notification that family members had died during the hurricane. Pastors were present to counsel with and listen to the distressed persons.
During the days following the first weekend, Oklahoma area United Methodists were enlisted to assist in many ways. Many OIMC persons volunteered and assisted every day since the evacuees arrived at Camp Gruber, said Rev. David Wilson, Conference Superintendent.
“During the first week, I think there were at least four OIMC persons assisting Anita with the various requests,” stated Rev. Wilson. “Our persons responded very quickly and were anxious to do whatever possible to help out.”
“Every time there was a need, Oklahoma United Methodists responded,” said Mrs. Phillis McCarty, Disaster Response Coordinator. “I am really proud of the way that United Methodists responded,” she said. “I know that we played a large role in the organization at Gruber,” she said.
In addition, to daily volunteers needed to assist Rev. Phillips, the COAD office was asked to fill many special needs of the residents and the volunteer agencies working at Camp Gruber, according to Phillis McCarty.
Mr. Jim Hoover, member of Fife Memorial was called after the camp was in need of a second message board for use by the residents and tables for medical workers. Jim and a colleague of his spent a Saturday constructing the message boards and tables for use by the camp.
Later, there was a constant need for licensed fork lift operators in the warehouse. The son-in-law of one of the church members at Fife Memorial volunteered and spent the weekend at Camp Gruber, working in the warehouse. He also enlisted the help of other fork lift workers who took turns working in the warehouse.
Volunteers from Lawton, Muskogee, Antlers and Oklahoma City spent several days working with Anita and Phillis at the COAD desk. They helped to coordinate volunteers and performed many tasks to make the operation run smoothly.
Rev. Bill and Geneva Foote spent several days working at the transportation desk, where their task was to arrange for transportation for persons to leave Camp Gruber. They came back several days in a row to assist with the effort.
After the first few days, many person were able to talk with relatives and find places where they could stay and live. It was the task of COAD to find persons to transport the temporary residents to the bus stations and airports and to also find funds for the tickets.
The COAD office quickly began working with churches and organizations across the area to solicit drivers and funds to get people back with families and friends. When a call went out to the Oklahoma Annual Conference for vans and van drivers, churches responded quickly.
After the call on Friday, over twelve United Methodist vans sat in front, ready to transport persons to various places. Many of those vans and van drivers have worked daily, transporting person to the bus stations and also to doctor’s appointments, to pick-up medications, Wal-Mart and other places, said Mrs. McCarty.
“The United Methodist folks not only helped us the first day, but they are still present,” she said.
Bishop Robert E. Hayes requested emergency funding from UMCOR on behalf of both conferences and both received $10,000 each to help with the relief efforts.
To date, approximately $10,000 has been spent on bus and air tickets to get displaced persons back with family members and friends.
Rev. Anita Phillips said that as much as $10,000 will still be needed to handle the needs of the remaining person at Camp Gruber.
Mrs. McCarty said she expects the camp to be closed by the first of October. “Because of the hard work by so many volunteers, the camp should close before the projected date.”
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