United Way, CSCF closer to distributing tornado relief funds

As published by the Enid News & Eagle, July 29, 2026, Article by Mikaila Kraus

Photo credit: Kevin Hassler, Enid News & Eagle

Enid Rotary Club had two of its members speak Monday about ongoing efforts to provide financial assistance to people impacted by the devastating EF4 tornado April 23.

Carrie Sanders, executive director of the Cherokee Strip Community Foundation, and Dan Schiedel, CEO and executive director of United Way of Enid & Northwest Oklahoma, spoke on the experience of assisting those who had property destroyed or damaged in the April tornado.

More than 40 homes were destroyed or damaged. About 10 people were injured, but there were no fatalities.

The tornado formed 3 miles southwest of Vance Air Force Base at 8:11 p.m. April 23, according to the National Weather Service. It went through the southern part of Vance before crossing U.S. 81 and devastating the Gray Ridge addition, then hitting more homes and businesses along Leona Mitchell Boulevard, Southgate east of 16th, along 30th and reaching further east to Rupe and 42nd.

The tornado packed estimated winds up to 180 mph, according to NWS. The path was 600 yards at its widest, and the tornado was on the ground for 10.4 miles before dissipating at 8:48 p.m. just west of Enid Woodring Regional Airport.

Sanders talked about how after the tornado hit, people in the philanthropic community immediately started reaching out to see how they could help.

"So pretty soon after the tornado, we were positioned to receive those charitable gifts and be good stewards of the donations," Sanders said.

"We asked a number of the families, what is it that you need?" Schiedel said. "We just got a lot of information back from them about the gaps in insurance and other things that they needed right away."

Together, the two organizations received more than $300,000 in donations from individuals, businesses and community partners.

Sanders and Schiedel provided those in attendance with pieces of paper detailing the Enid Strong Grant Program, which will open its applications Saturday, Aug. 1. Applicants must have occupied a Garfield County residence that sustained tornado damage, demonstrate a financial impact directly related to the April 23 tornado and supply all required documentation.

Whether an application will be accepted and how much money each individual applicant will be awarded will be decided by a committee. The handout provided by Sanders and Schiedel said the committee will evaluate applicants based on criteria such as the extent of the damage their residences sustained, what unmet needs they have due to gaps in insurance or personal finances, the impact upon the applicant's household and how committed the applicant is to remaining in Enid.

The maximum amount that can be awarded is $20,000.

Sanders said that for the sake of transparency, information will be available on enidstrong.com about how many households the grant ends up helping and what needs the awarded money addressed. The identities of those who received help will not be included in that information.

The deadline to submit an application is Sept. 11.

Grants awarded through the Enid Strong Grant Program will be distributed as charitable disaster relief assistance to eligible recipients. the first round of awards is anticipated to be distributed in October.

Additional information and application updates will be available at cherokeestripcf.com and unitedwayenid.org.