Okmulgee County is no stranger to extremes. In the winter, Arctic cold snaps push temperatures well below safe levels. In the summer, relentless heat waves turn homes into ovens. These are not rare or unexpected events – they are recurring, predictable and increasingly dangerous. Yet our emergency response infrastructure continues to rely too heavily on informal goodwill instead of formal preparation. This must change.

Extreme cold and extreme heat are not just uncomfortable; they are life-threatening, especially for elderly residents and those living in low-income housing. Much of Okmulgee County’s housing is aging, poorly insulated and ill-equipped to handle sustained temperature extremes. For many residents, especially our seniors living on fixed incomes, heating and cooling systems simply cannot keep up. When temperatures drop below freezing, pipes burst. When temperatures rise above 100 degrees, air conditioning units fail – or, as in many cases, most homes do not have a/c units to begin with. Add to the growing concern of the cost of heating/ cooling homes and we have a crisis in our community.

Over the past several years, I have opened and led numerous emergency shelters in Okmulgee County during severe weather events. I did not do this for accolades but out of genuine concern for our neighbors. These were not abstract exercises in planning; they were urgent responses to real people with nowhere else to go. During this past cold event alone, we served 38 individuals who came seeking a hot shower, a warm meal and a safe place to stay. Of those served, 15 were tribal members, and two were families. What surprised many volunteers – and should concern policymakers – was the median age: 55. More than two-thirds of those served were over 55.

An important note: These were not people experiencing long-term homelessness. The majority sought shelter because their water pipes had frozen or because their homes could not be heated above 50 degrees. In other words, their housing failed them when conditions became extreme.

Our community responded generously. Neighbors donated more than $2,000 to help offset utility costs and provide food and essential items, including towels, toiletries and laundry detergent, and many volunteered to run the shelter 24/7 for 5 days. This generosity speaks volumes about Okmulgee’s heart. At this same time, goodwill should not be our primary emergency response strategy. Volunteers should supplement preparedness – not replace it. Caring for our neighbors is not political. It is being a part of a community.

As climate patterns become increasingly unpredictable, Okmulgee County must shift from reactive crisis management to proactive emergency planning. This means investing in and coordinating accessible cooling centers during the summer and warming centers during the winter. It means developing clear protocols, so residents know where to go before temperatures become dangerous. It means ensuring emergency services and city leadership are prepared to act quickly rather than waiting for someone else to step up.

Equally important is fostering a culture of community care: checking in on elderly neighbors, ensuring people have transportation to emergency centers and recognizing that isolation can be just as deadly as exposure. Again, community care works best when supported by strong public infrastructure and systems that ensure the health of all our communities.

Emergency services are not a luxury – they are a necessity. The data is clear, the need is evident, and the cost of inaction is measured in human lives. Now it is time for our city and county officials to match that commitment with preparation, funding and leadership.

We cannot wait for the next freeze or heat wave to remind us of what we already know. The question is not whether another extreme weather event will happen; it is whether we will be ready when it does.

— Stats from the January Emergency Warming Center

• People Served: 38

• Tribal Members: 15

• Median Age: 55-60 years old

• Unhoused: 15

• Housed: 23

• Meals served: 17 meals served (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

• Volunteers: 43 volunteers, most pulling several time slots to help

• Items donated: food, blankets, clothing, pillows, water, TP, puzzles, games for children – A huge thank you to all the businesses who donated, including The Academy of Okmulgee, Casey’s, Catholic Daughters of America, Central Perk Coffee, Cornerstone Church, Eastside Baptist, First Family Credit Union, First Freewill Baptist, First United Methodist Women, Flowers on Main, Jubilee Christian, Kirby’s, McClendon-Winters Funeral Home, Muscogee Nation, Neal’s Furniture, Okmulgee County Emergency Management, Patron’s Bank, Randy’s Foods, Spring Dental, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Starbuck’s Okmulgee, This-N-That Thrift Store, Okmulgee Walmart and numerous financial donations from caring individuals all over our community. I deeply apologize if I missed your name or business. Many requested that their business and names be anonymous. Without our volunteers and donations from our community, successful service to our community would not have happened.