‘We show the love’: Marietta focused on recovery in EF-4 aftermath

MARIETTA, Okla. (KFOR) — Recovery efforts are underway in the aftermath of an EF-4 tornado that tore through Marietta over the weekend.

The Love County Sheriff’s Office said clean up efforts are expected to be lengthy. The most significant damage was to the city’s Homeland grocery store, Dollar General, hospital, nursing home and Dollar Tree Distribution Center.

County leaders are asking residents to be patient while they continue to assess the damage.

County leaders said one person died as a result of the tornado, but no other fatalities have been reported.

Efforts on Monday were focused on getting resources to people who needed them. A donation drop off point and volunteers were staged at the Marietta Fair building in town. 

County leaders said schools are expected to open back up at some point, but did not have updates to share on that front on Monday.

Volunteer coordinators told News 4 their most pressing needs at the moment are to-go containers, plastic ware, trash cans/trash bags, diapers, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items, safety vests and storage bins for packing things up.

Donations could be critical considering the town’s major and only grocery store was destroyed.

“It’s going to be a while before we rebuild,” said Dana McMillen of Marietta. “We're going to need groceries. We're going to need people going to doctor's appointments.“

As for physical clean up efforts, county leaders said they’re currently in a holding pattern and will put more information out when that assistance is needed.

Right now, county leaders say the focus is on the community grappling with a new normal.

“We're fixing to start a program, going door to door, checking for medical issues if they're needing generators for their medical devices,” said Love County Sheriff Andy Cumberledge. “Any medical needs, any food needs, anything that they need.”

Sheriff Cumberledge said the damage to the distribution center in town has also been a big blow, likely leaving the community in a temporary economic free fall.

“This has really crippled our community as far as infrastructure goes,” said Cumberledge. 

Cumberledge said the community will do its best to help impacted employees out in the meantime.

“We're going to try to do our best to get them employed, get them back on their feet, help them in any way we can,” said Cumberledge.

News 4 reached out to Dollar Tree’s corporate office and received the following statement from a spokesperson:

“The Dollar Tree Distribution Center located in Marietta, Oklahoma sustained significant tornado damage as a result of the storms that swept through the area the night of April 27. We are grateful to report that no one was injured. Our immediate focus is on the needs of our associates and the communities this Distribution Center serves. We are working as swiftly as possible to assess the facility’s damage and pivot our operations to ensure our nearby stores receive the supplies they need to serve our customers. We extend our gratitude to the area’s first responders who continue to work tirelessly to support the people and businesses of Marietta and the surrounding areas.”

News 4 also reached out to Homeland’s local marketing/communications contacts but had not received a response as of Monday evening.

Longtime locals of Marietta said it’s been reassuring however to see Oklahomans and out-of-state travelers come to aid them during a time of need.

“Everybody is out here lending a hand, trying to get everything out, ready to go for anybody that may need anything,” said McMillen.

News 4 asked McMillen why she believed the community had come together so quickly and in large numbers to help.

“It's called Love County for a reason,” said McMillen. “We come together. We show the love.”

Love County officials are asking anyone wanting to volunteer to help Tuesday to be at the Love County Fair Building at 8 a.m.