The relief and recovery effort is underway in the Oklahoma City area after a an EF-5 twister tore through Monday, leaving 24 dead and 12,000 - 13,000 homes damaged or destroyed.

Officials estimated the recovery cost at $2 billion.

If you wish to help, the following organizations are providing food, shelters, and emergency supplies and equipment.

Alanna: I am excited for increased tourism to our area and the community pride that will come from keeping a pro sports team in our city.

Aimee: I’m not a big sports fan so I’m most excited about the prospect of a stadium revitalizing downtown. Breathing new life into the rail-yards is necessary to revitalize Alkali Flats area so I wouldn’t mind seeing the remnants of the K Street mall (car dealerships and cell hone stores do not constitute a mall) demolished and turned into a hub for sports fans. I’m sure the arena would host concerts and other events I would love to be able to bike there!

Amy: I don’t really care about the NBA, but I hope the complex brings a renewed vision for how good downtown Sacramento can be... Read More

The tragedy of Monday’s tornado in Oklahoma may be halfway across the country, but there are still ways we can help locally.

Jordan Scott, communications director for the American Red Cross Capital Region Chapter, said the organization is accepting donations for relief efforts. People can text REDCROSS to 9099 to make an automatic $10 donation, or can visit redcross.org to make a donation.

Scott said there are no plans yet to send teams from Northern California over to Oklahoma for relief efforts, but that it usually takes 24 to 48 hours for them to receive requests.

“Our volunteers know it may happen and to be ready,” Scott said. “We’ve got the experience and the expertise here.”

Volunteers from the area have helped out through other disasters, including the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Mo., and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.