Pinal County sending aid to tornado-hit Oklahoma town

NEWSRELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 22^nd, 2013

 

CONTACT:   Jim Knupp, Public Information Officer, 520-510-5463    

                       Tamra Ingersoll, Public Information Officer, 520-866-5208      

 

PINAL COUNTY – The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and the Pinal County Attorney’s Office are preparing to send manpower, financial-aid and other needed resources to the devastated communities in Oklahoma County in a response for assistance from Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel.

 

This afternoon, County Attorney Lando Voyles and Sheriff Paul Babeu introduced the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue members that will accompany County Attorney Voyles on Friday morning to travel to Oklahoma and assist in humanitarian aid and clean-up efforts.

 

Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel requested mutual-aid from fellow Sheriff’s across the U.S. following the devastating tornado.  Residents across Pinal County will have a chance to send their messages of support through County Attorney Voyles and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue members by signing a banner at one of the following Pinal County Walmart stores:

Apache Junction

Casa Grande

Coolidge

Maricopa

San Tan Valley

 

The banners will be available until 6 p.m. Thursday evening. Additionally, Pinal County residents can purchase Walmart gift cards Wednesday and Thursday at any of the Pinal County Walmart stores that will be collected and transported by County Attorney Voyles to Oklahoma County and directly given to people that have been affected by the tornado.

 

Walmart has already pledged $1 million to assist with recovery efforts in Moore, OK. The company is also sending truckloads of food, water and other basic items to serve as immediate aid.

In addition to the manpower and donations from Pinal County residents; the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has purchased 15 brand new Stihl Chain Saws, with extra arms, 30 extra chains and all the supplies to maintain this equipment that will be transported to Oklahoma County to help assist in the tremendous cleanup.

 

Pinal County Attorney Voyles originally planned to spend the Memorial Day Weekend visiting relatives in Texas, but after learning of the tornadoes on Monday, he changed course.  "My family's home and town were affected by a tornado in Mississippi and people from all over the world came to help. Experiencing, directly the effects these disasters pose for people and their families, I wanted to pay those favors forward by helping and providing the residents of Oklahoma with needed resources.”

 

Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “We have been asked to help victims and law enforcement in Oklahoma and we are sending three deputies for one week.  Please sign our message banner to show our support and consider purchasing a Walmart gift card for us to deliver to victims in need. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families and we are honored answer the call for help.”

 

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