After recent Kingfisher flooding, several groups partnered to help bring relief to those whose houses sustained the most extensive damage.

“The houses were completely unlivable,” said Alan Fletcher, director of emergency management for the Cheyenne and Arapaho (C&A) Tribes.

The Oklahoma Red Cross partnered Fletcher and his agency with Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief program.

Richard Brown, of Norman, is the state coordinator for Mud out, Ash out, Roof tarping and Chain saw (MARC) for the program through the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO).

The two groups collectively offered their volunteer services in Kingfisher.

The volunteers are going into the houses and removing everything that was damaged by the flood waters, basically gutting them.

“We plan to complete all three houses by the end of the week and possibly sooner if we have enough volunteers each day,” said Brown.

There were 22 volunteers on the site on East Robberts Avenue Monday morning.

Brown said this left him feeling hopeful they could complete all three houses in three days.

Fletcher added that after the removal process, the C&A will then step in and rehabilitate the homes. The C&A will attempt to recoup some of the costs from FEMA, which approved Kingfisher County last week for disaster assistance.

Members from the First Baptist Church of Kingfisher have also pitched in to help.

Shelly Watkins, one of several volunteers from the church, explained that when members of the church tithe, a portion of the money goes toward the BGCO.

A portion of that money then goes to the disaster relief program.

“By tithing, members of our church are helping with these efforts all over the state,” said Watkins.

“We are here to do whatever they need,” she added. “Many of the other volunteers from FBC have helped with disaster relief before, but this is my first time.”

FBC has also helped by providing the ConNEXTion as a location for all of the volunteers to eat lunch.