Oklahomans are getting disaster recovery help thanks to this nonprofit group

Like many disaster survivors, a Slaughterville woman found her path to recovery fraught with financial concerns, insurance issues and other obstacles.

Carolyn Shockey and her son faced some of these roadblocks after two storms damaged their mobile home but they are currently on the right "ROAD" due to the efforts of a group of nonprofit agencies.

Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster, known as ROAD, led the project to build Shockey a new home. Agency leaders presented her with the keys to her new house in June.

"I've done nothing but cry and give thanks to the Lord ― it's such a blessing," she said.

Her happiness was in sharp contrast to the worry she felt after hail pelted her mobile home to such an extent that she was forced to place cardboard and plastic trash bags over all of the broken windows. Then, a 2023 tornado shifted the mobile home off of its frame, damaging the electrical system so that Shockey was unable to heat or cool the residence for herself and her adult son, whom she has cared for after he suffered a brain injury in a car crash.

Shockey said her porch has been ripped away from the home and her ceiling was about to cave in due to the tornado damage. She'd already spent most of her fixed income on critical repairs to her well storage tank.

More: Why do tornadoes occur? Here's a look at how severe weather forms in Oklahoma

"FEMA had come to say it was uninhabitable and I was about to drive off my property," she said.

Instead, she stayed and soon learned from ROAD co-founder Chad Detwiler that several agencies were going to build her a new home.

"When Chad unrolled the (blueprint) plans for the house, I just kept saying 'Uh huh, uh huh' — I was speechless," Shockey said.

She and her son moved into their new 1,000-square-foot two bedroom residence in June. ROAD and partnering agencies also built a carport and storm shelter nearby.

Detwiler, of Oklahoma City, said services provided by ROAD include debris cleanup, drywall, roofing, muck outs, roof tarping, insulation installation, flooring, siding and more using donated materials and volunteer labor.

He said the organization doesn't often get opportunities to build new homes for disaster survivors but Oklahoma Mennonite Disaster Services received a grant that provided enough funds for partnering organizations to construct Shockey's new house. He said they partnered with other organizations, including B&H Construction, Oklahoma Ceiling Systems, CityServe Oklahoma out of Tulsa and Catholic Charities.

Detwiler said ROAD helps people who have no insurance and do not have the means to recover from storms and other disasters because of finances, health issues and other challenges.

He said the organization's volunteers do what they do so that people like Shockey and her son may receive much-needed help. The agency leader said he knew that aid was appreciated as he watched an ecstatic Shockey walk into her new home for the first time.

"It's very rewarding seeing tears of joy being shed due to something we have been able to provide," he said. "It's a blessing."

ROAD work

Detwiler started Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster in September 2018, along with Kevin Walker and Hal Wright after their previous employer, Oklahoma United Methodist Disaster Response Ministry, closed. Detwiler said the three of them had been case managers for the ministry and had worked alongside Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, known as OKVOAD, for years.

He said he had always thought that being a missionary meant going out of state but he eventually came to see his work with ROAD as a "mission of the heart," and he doesn't have to leave Oklahoma to fulfill it.

The nonprofit leader said he thinks more Oklahomans like Shockey are going to need the help because of the damage left by a large number of tornados and storms that wreaked havoc in Sulphur and other areas across the state.

He said ROAD can do new builds with volunteer labor but funding is still needed for materials and other construction costs. Detwiler said cash donations are best for ROAD but the organization also accepts donations of new drywall, shingles and other items.

Shockey said she is still being surprised by some of the "blessings" that the group of agencies provided to her like new silverware, pots and pans and towels.

"Each time I drive up to the house, I look and think, 'It's got my name on it,'" she said.

"I can do nothing but give thanks to the Lord. This is built by good hands — it's blessed."

How to Help

For more information about Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster, go to www.disasterroad.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma nonprofit helps rebuild after tornadoes, disasters