Tulsa Red Cross Gets New Operations Center

News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The Tulsa Red Cross is prepared for another disaster with a new emergency operations center.

The new operations center is twice the size of the old one.   It's what the Red Cross calls the nerve center of services during large disasters.

The new center has 19 computers and phone stations where volunteers can help with everything from directing supplies to mental health services.  There are also three flat-screen TVs so volunteers can keep track of the disaster scenes.

The Red Cross started the project immediately after last year's ice storm.

"We've been wanting to renovate our emergency operation center, but when the ice storm hit, we realized we really had to do to it.  So, we just asked the community to help us.  And of course, in Oklahoma, the standard's there and they came out and helped us," said Tulsa Red Cross CEO Mary Ogle.

The Red Cross says everything for the renovations was donated.