Deadline extended on Red Cross Tornado Grant

PAWHUSKA, Okla. (Thursday, August 20, 2015)—On April 13, 2015, the Osage Nation received a grant award of $27,500 from the American Red Cross to provide tornado shelters for Osages living in Moore, Oklahoma, during the 2013 tornado. This was part of $6.5 million in grants the American Red Cross awarded in the areas that suffered damage. Osage Nation Emergency Management (ONEM) along with other Oklahoma tribes were contacted to apply for the grant funds. The purpose of the grant was to provide funding for the construction of safe rooms/shelters to provide protection from injury/death caused by the forces of extreme winds.

The deadline for candidates to apply for assistance has been extended to September 30, 2015.

The search area for Osage applicants has now been extended to include all of Oklahoma County along with the following counties: Cleveland, Canadian, Potawatomie, Lincoln, and McClain.

ONEM Director Bobby Tallchief has listed other criteria:

• be an enrolled Osage tribal member
• have verifiable proof of damage from the May 2013 storms
• must own or be purchasing the home
• candidates cannot currently have a storm shelter or safe room

The American Red Cross Tornado Shelter program is a reimbursement-type grant.

Director Tallchief will facilitate the project and oversee the installation of the shelters and all reporting requirements. Contact Tallchief at Osage Nation Emergency Management/Wildland Fire at 918-287-5225 or 918-636-4578.