Salvation Army Employees Share Experiences with Flood Survivors at the MARC

Tulsa, Oklahoma (June 15, 2019) – Volunteers and employees are working at Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) on behalf of The Salvation Army in various locations across Northeast Oklahoma.  A MARC provides a central location for representatives from government, nonprofit, and faith-based disaster relief organizations to answer questions, provide information, and disaster-related assistance.

“I get very sad listening to survivors’ stories of losing everything. They have lost their homes, cars, and sentimental things like family heirlooms,” shared Eiiko Brown, from Lawton, Oklahoma. “I can’t imagine losing everything.” And despite their loss, they want to go back to their homes. Brown explains, “Many of their homes have been condemned as uninhabitable, yet they want to try to save a few things yet are afraid to see how bad it is.” Brown is grateful to be of service to disaster survivors and remembers as a child how her family would not have had a Christmas without the help of The Salvation Army.

Approximately six years ago, Heather Millar, Regional Recovery Program Manager in Texas, went to work for The Salvation Army after the May 2013 tornadoes in Oklahoma.  She shares “I am amazed at the resiliency of the people.   They have been through so much yet are upbeat, avowing they are going to recover.”  Millar goes on to share how impressed she has been when asking survivors if there is anything they need.  Often, she has heard of neighbors and churches coming together to muck out and gut homes affected by the flooding.  It is great to hear about close-knit communities.

To date, the following dates and times for MARCs have been announced:

 June 14 & 15

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Warner

810 2nd Ave.

Warner, OK

June 14, 15 & 16

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Charles Page/Sand Springs High School, Ed Dubie Field House

500 N Adams Road

Sand Springs, OK

June 17 & 18

10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sears Building at Central Mall

5111 Rogers Avenue

Fort Smith, AR

June 18 & 19

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

1st Baptist Church (South Campus)

940 W. Oak

Skiatook, OK

June 20 & 21

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Bartlesville High School Gym

1700 Hillcrest Drive

Bartlesville, OK

June 22

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Miami Civic Center

129 5th Avenue Northwest

Miami, OK

For the latest emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army, follow the social feed on Twitter at @salarmyeds or visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.