Homelessness in Tulsa: A Brief Portrait

By Ben Eller

I recently spent a cloudy Tuesday afternoon on the streets of downtown Tulsa. My mission was to meet some people who roamed the streets every day.

It was past 5 p.m., so most of the 9-to-5 business people had left their offices. The sidewalks were pretty empty, but I managed to meet some interesting characters as well.

The most interesting person I met was an elderly man who seemed to be mentally unstable or on drugs. He approached me when he saw my camera, and began to ramble on about doing jail time and a stabbing he had seen. I was never able to ask any questions or get his name. He then began accusing me of crimes and mumbling profanity.

I decided to keep moving and see who else was on the streets.

I talked to four other homeless men downtown. Some said they stayed in different parts for the night or at the Day Center or the downtown YMCA when the weather was bad. None of the men would say much about what led them to lives on the street.

One man, riding a pink bicycle that looked like it belonged to a little girl, told me that it was just too difficult to find work in the city, but he still had hope that he would.

I wanted to help all of the people came across downtown, but I didn't know how I could. I feel that giving them the attention I did made them feel a little more important and a little less neglected.

Ben Eller is a Tulsa native and a huge sports fan. Besides TU, his favorite teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and the Oklahoma Thunder.

Tulsa's Lebanese Tradition: Cedar's Deli

By Carolyn Siegerist

In a small shopping complex between 21st and 31st on Sheridan sits an indistinct looking Lebanese restaurant. A neon sign says "The Cedar's Deli," but you might miss it if you didn't know what you were looking for.

Though it may not look like it, Cedar's Deli has been selling homemade Lebanese cuisine to Tulsans in that spot for over 40 years. I decided to go in and have a gyro with some hummus on the side, a meal I often get at Lebanese restaurants.

I saw quite a different crowd than what I had expected. Cedar's Deli is primarily a lunch restaurant, made apparent by the long line at the counter. The entire eating area was packed with all sorts of people: businessmen, couples in their golden years, a group of younger women presumably at a "girl's luncheon," and so on.

Since my grandfather has been a client for the last 20 years, I asked the owner if I could ask him a little bit about the restaurant, mentioning the fact that my grandfather was such a fan.

Sam H. Farhood, the original and current owner, replied: "You grandfather is Jim? And your grandmother is Carol? Such lovely people. Your aunt Stacey too, why she was just in the other day!"

Maybe in a city the size of Tulsa I shouldn't be surprised that he would know customers so well, but it wasn't just my family he knew. As I watched patrons finish their meals, several took time to chat it up with Sam, who seemed to know them all.

Sam then took me to his office and handed me a fact sheet about Lebanon, which I realized later were made available in the front of the restaurant for all patrons. He explained his move to America as a child knowing no English whatsoever, how he grew up in Tulsa and became a teacher, and how he brought back a wife from Lebanon, Nuhad, and how they decided to open a restaurant together.

Nuhad, currently visiting family in Lebanon, does a great deal of the cooking and their son, Jason, also works at the restaurant.

The eclectic decor in Cedar's includes maps of Lebanon, flags for all the main universities in Oklahoma, and a collection of awards and newspaper clippings about the deli.

As I left, Sam gave me a big hug and told me to say hello to the family. I felt that just by coming in and asking him about his restaurant, which has been his life's work, I had ingratiated myself with him and that he will always recognize me.

I think this place is a perfect example of the mix of the strong cultural influence created by immigration, blended with the small town feeling hospitality of Oklahoma. I would encourage anyone to try out Cedar's, if not for the hospitality, at least to try the delicious authentic Lebanese cuisine.

Carolyn Siegerist recently returned from a semester in Spain. She is a TU communication major from Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The Friendly Man at the Fruit Stand

By Megan Stock

Nestled in the busy intersection at 21st and Harvard lies a humble little striped tent filled with fresh produce.

I went to this little stand a few times this summer, but only to stop in and get some of the best peaches in town. When I stopped in this fall I was greeted with a smile and an enthusiastic “nice to see you again!”

This welcoming made me feel bad because I had no idea who the man behind the counter was. Before I began my search for the perfect peach that day, I asked the friendly fellow little bit about the stand.

I learned that all the fruits and vegetables were delivered fresh daily. That’s right, every morning the owner drives to local farms and gathers the best fruits and vegetables and brings them back.

When I asked about my beloved Georgia peaches, the man laughed and told me those too were hand delivered by the owner himself from Georgia back to Tulsa.

“Jeff, the owner, bought a truck at the end of May with 33,000 miles on it. He told me yesterday that it now had over 100,000 miles from all of his pickups," the man said.

All of the fruits and vegetables are freshly gown and, not counting the peaches, all from local farmers.

The man raved about how great it was to work there. Its one of the few jobs where the owners really cared about their employees.

“Sometimes they just drop by to gives us drinks or food if we are working an extra long shift, and the best part is we can eat whatever produce here we want for free… too bad I don’t like fruit."

This little produce stand may go unnoticed. But if its good fruit or vegetables and a friendly face you are looking for, then it’s worth the stop.

Megan Stock is a TU communication major from Springfield, Mo. A member of Delta Gamma sorority, she plays intramural basketball and flag football.

Weber's: Brookside's Burger and Root Beer Joint

By Gretchen Schroer

It’s a sunny late summer afternoon and I find myself strolling through Tulsa's quaint Brookside area. People cruise the sidewalks with friends in tow, all about their own business.

As I approach the end of the action I know I should turn back around, but my instinct tells me that I should carry on a little longer. And I am glad I did.

There on the corner sits an orange shack that looks beaten by the years. Curiosity strikes and I walk towards it, seeing a crowd of diverse ages and waistband sizes.

Not knowing what this orange building holds I mosey towards it, skeptical of what is in store for me. As I walk in I get an overwhelming aroma of homemade burgers and onion rings, I think I just walked into heaven.

The feeling slowly diminishes as I realize that this is not a restaurant, but a hall with six stools at bar on the wall, with a kitchen attached.

Though the size was miniscule, I didn’t let that ruin the experience. I walk to the order window and for a single burger with catsup only. Then they asked, "Would you like some fresh-brewed root beer with that.”

“Yes!” I exclaimed.

While sitting and waiting for my food I look at my surroundings. The walls are littered with signed one dollar bills, framed newspaper articles, original menus and a list of coupons available online.

Soon my name is called and I sink my teeth into a greasy burger and a smile comes over my face. Maybe old-fashioned shouldn’t stay a thing of the past.

Gretchen Schroer is a senior communication major from Overland Park, Kansas. After graduation, she is palling to embark on a year-long round the world trip.

All about Invitations: The Inviting Place is for Girls

By Elizabeth Kubik

The mostly female customers who stroll through the welcoming doors of the oblong, girly, stationary shop at 61st Street and Yale Avenue, expect a great set of invitations, superior service and, most often, some energetic girl-talk.

A paper and gifts store, The Inviting Place specializes in adorable and affordable invitations for every occasion: weddings, birthdays, births, anniversaries or just a backyard barbecue.

I found the eye-catching store, currently decorated for fall with an OSU tailgate window-display and ghostly Halloween invitations strategically placed next to a bright, colorful, candy corn bowl, to be a lively environment, full of frills and enthusiasm.

Invitations line the walls. From invitations for a little princess’ palace birthday party to the eloquent, gorgeous wedding invitations of her dreams, the store, and the passionate employees, seek to please every taste, every occasion and every customer.

"We really try to have a wide variety of gifts and invitations so that all our customers can find exactly what they are looking for," Sara, store owner, OSU graduate and long-time Tulsan, says.

While the choices of invitations seem endless, I was far more impressed by the people who create the energy and mood in the store.

Hard-working, busy women carefully tie satin bows to complete the finishing touches on an upcoming wedding program and add the last rhinestone to a 50th surprise birthday invitation to give it an appropriate glitz, all while chatting away, offering knowledgeable assistance and advice to customers.

The enjoyment these women seem to get out of being in the store and helping customers ultimately breathes life into The Inviting Place.

Elizabeth Kubik is a TU senior from St. Louis. She is majoring in English and completing a certificate in journalism studies. She is also a passionate runner.

The Friendly Folks at FedEx Kinko's

By Danni Powell

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. To some, this place might actually be FedEx Kinko's (formerly Kinko's). On occasion, some very interesting people do business there.

With that in mind, I spent my Wednesday lunch hour observing the customers and employees at Kinko's.

As I approached the building on 11th Street just across from the TU campus, I was surprised to see that the parking lot that FedEx Kinko's shares with Subway was packed. I counted eight people waiting in line, with more people browsing the store. Most looked between 24-45, but there was one gray-haired older woman. It was obvious everyone was in a hurry, but no one was rude or pushy.

These questions in my mind were interrupted by a shout of “Leann!”

I looked to the door, expecting to see an employee walk in. Instead, it was another customer. One of the employees was hollering at the customer like she was a good friend.

Leann's friend is Greg, an employee of FedEx Kinko's for the past four years. Greg said that he had only met Leann in the store, and over the last few years they developed a rapport through casual conversation.

When asked if that is common, Greg said, “A lot of the time we see the same faces. You figure out how much family they have and where they work and stuff.” This is how he came to consider Leann a friend.

I asked him if he ever had any unusual people come in to shop. “You get the occasional crazy. But hey, that's Tulsa,” he said.

Danni Powell is a TU junior majoring in communication. She is a native of Muldrow, Okla., where she finished at the top of her high school graduation class.

Sights, Sounds and Smells from Tulsa's Cherry Street Farmers' Market

By Jintae Hwang

Cool grey sky welcomed me that morning as I stepped out of my apartment. I headed to 15th and Peoria in midtown Tulsa, now known as Lincoln Plaza.

The full parking lot showed how popular the place was. After getting out of my car, I could smell the freshness and the excitement of welcoming people. I arrived at the Cherry Street Farmers’ Market.

The small parking lot was full of numbers of booths all around. Local farmers stood inside selling their products. The foggy day brought cool breeze for people to enjoy Saturday morning shopping.

Fresh vegetables were the main products—tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and many more. The market had a lot to offer and the hoppers seemed happy. The atmosphere was kind of sophisticated, since the shoppers seemed to be educated or well-off people.

Disneyland has its Mickey Mouse dollar. Cherry Street Farmers’ Market has its own currency as well. They have tokens for people without cash. All you need to do is swipe your card with a dollar service fee.

The ‘trustworthy system’ still exists there. I brought some grapes without paying, but was told to pay on my next visit. That surprised me the most after all.

I headed back with full of shopping bags in my hands. Next week, I just have to remember to bring $7 to the grape booth.

Jintae Hwang is a senior at TU. A native of South Korea, he lived in California for four years before coming to Tulsa. After graduation, he plans a career in sports media in Korea.

Tulsans and Their Dogs: A Visit to Joe Station Bark Park

By Katelin Montag

In cities like Tulsa, it is not always easy to find wide open spaces to let your dogs run around in. Tulsa’s two off-leash dog parks are giving city dwellers a solution to that problem while having a highly welcoming atmosphere.

The day I visited Joe Station Bark Park in West Tulsa, I found it to be a perfect example of friendliness and courtesy. Everyone was following the posted rules and even the dogs seemed to be in a cheerful mood.

Dogs are the center of attention at Joe Station Bark Park. They are celebrated in the design of the park with images of bones and separate areas for large and small dogs to play in. Bleachers are also provided outside of the fence for those who want to watch the dogs play from a distance.

My favorite part of the park was seeing the interactions between the dog owners. The dogs are encouraged to roam around and play with the other dogs at the park and whenever a pair of dogs would become friendly with one another, so would the owners.

Conversations were borne out of discussing the traits and personalities of each dog and what could easily turn into a competition usually developed into friendly chats. I couldn’t help thinking of the Midwestern charm I always hear about being a part of Tulsa, but rarely notice after so many years of living here.

The dog parks not only provide a service for Tulsa’s pets, but also showcase the ability of people to work together to create a pleasant environment for everyone.

Katelin Montag is a TU senior majoring in communication, minoring in English. An international baccalaureate graduate of Tulsa's Booker T. Washington High School, she plans to work as a news writer.

A Mom and Pop Burger Joint in Tulsa: Wranglers BBQ

By Caity Lincoln

A strong craving for one of Tulsa’s best burgers sent me on a cross town trek to Wranglers BBQ at 71st and Memorial last week. I’ve been patronizing Wranglers for years, and being a self-proclaimed “burger guru,” I can honestly say that they make one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.

Wranglers is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Joe and Cindy. Customer service is very important to Joe and Cindy and so at this drive-up burger joint, Cindy can always be found cheerfully filling orders and chatting with her regular customers.

Cindy almost always recognizes her loyal customers by their orders even before they pull up to her window.

“Hi there doll! I was just thinking about you!” are often the first words out of her mouth. Her bright red hair and English-by-way-of-South Africa accent characterize her sunny disposition.

Joe can rarely be seen, but can often be heard around closing time when he’s arguing with Cindy for allowing customers to order more burgers when he’s ready to shut down the grill for the night.

A long line of cars can always be found snaked around this popular lunch time spot, but the delicious food is well worth the wait. Thick juicy steak burgers, BBQ specialties, and warm reception always ensures for repeat customers.

Next time you’re in the area and need a break from the mall mayhem, head on over to Wranglers for a little mom and pop dining experience that’s sure to make your day.

Caity Lincoln is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa and a TU sophomore. She plans to go to law school.

2007 Ice Storm: The Story of A Pizza Delivery Driver

by Kelli Kickham

Last year’s ice storm was a shock and an inconvenience to everyone, but while most were stuck home without power, there were still the few businesses that did whatever possible to stay open, and the employees that worked through the cold.

Chris is a delivery driver at a Tulsa area pizza restaurant.

While most businesses were closing their doors, their store was busy hooking up generators and bringing in more business.

“I worked every day of the ice storm,” Chris said. He was busy at work driving the roads that locals were warned to stay off of, and walking sometimes ten pound orders to the door on the icy sidewalks.

It wasn’t just outside that things were crazy, though. The delivery and carry-out only store was full of customers.

“We had a full staff, the customer area packed, and there was even a line outside. There was somewhere around 60 people waiting for their orders that first night, before we got the generator,” he said.

When their power finally did go out that night, the oven was full and there were around 30 or 40 angry people who had been waiting on their food over an hour.

“We ran close to an 80-order hour more than once during the ice storm. A normal busy hour on a Friday night is only around 50,” Chris said.

There were a number of people who ordered every day while their power was out.

“Everything about the ice storm was frustrating. Probably the worst of it, though, was that we couldn’t always get people their food even within an hour and a half, and they were often angry by the time we got there,” he said.

Chris also said that a lot of people didn’t tip, and some even thought they should have their orders free.

The customers were warned when they ordered that there was no guarantee how long it would be before their orders arrived, and many probably didn’t realize what the drivers were going through before they got their pizzas.

“You had to really watch out. There would be branches falling as you were driving down the road, branches falling as you were carrying the orders to their homes, and branches falling everywhere in-between,” Chris said. There were also so many branches already fallen that they “simply couldn’t get through some of the roads.”

He said that there wasn’t anything that anyone could do to make it better.

“It was horrible for everyone, nobody had any power, and they couldn’t cook,” Chris said.

His store was one of the few restaurants that stayed open while everyone was out of power, and he said a lot of people were “really thankful, they knew how bad it was out there for us, and they would have had trouble getting a meal if we didn’t come out.”

When Chris was asked whether there was any compensation for working that horrible week, he laughed and said, “Usually when you work in bad weather, you either get a bonus, or free food, but this time all we got was a t-shirt that said ‘I Survived the 2007 Ice Storm.’”

One year after the storm, Tulsans remember the chaos

By: Liza Mata

Jerry Holloway and his family did not anticipate the events of the Oklahoma Grand Ice Storm of 2007. A beautiful vision of “winter wonderland” ended up chaotically in a matter of days. His house was severely damaged, but he and his family made the best out of the situation.

The Holloways were out of electricity for eight days.

The first night of the storm was uneventful. Holloway said he and his family stayed at the house and heard branches falling outside.

Holloway said that the next morning, “We heard a limb fall and hit our house and walked outside.”

He said they started hearing “some really large cracks.” Holloway said that they noticed quite a few tree branches around their driveway, but “nothing that we couldn’t easily work around.”

The Holloways have very large trees around their driveway. Some of them are almost four feet wide and have limbs that are about the size of some trees, Holloway said.

Holloway was standing on his driveway seeing what was going to happen with some of those trees. He said they had a tree limb fall exactly in the center of their driveway “that was absolutely huge.”

Tree limbs continued to fall during the rest of the day. One fell on the house and pierced the roof all the way into the attic, but didn’t go all the way through, Holloway said.

“There were so many limbs down you couldn’t drive in and out of our house,” Holloway said.
However, they tried to make the best out of the situation.

Holloway said they were very fortunate to have a gas stove and battery-run water heaters in their house. They had plenty of wood in their fireplace and groceries.

He said they camped out by the fireplace with candles the first night without power.

Unique things happen at times when things appear to be bad, Holloway said.

Holloway went out to his garage and found an old generator that used to belong to his dad, who passed away in 2005.

That generator appeared to not have been used for over 30 years, he said. Holloway cleaned it and put gas in it and “the first time I pulled it, it started,” he said.

They were able to turn on some lights and the TV for a few days.

Like most people in Tulsa, they made it through “just on our camping skills,” Holloway said.

Holloway said that his worst experience was the fear of major damage to their home, from the trees that surround it. They could have lost their home.

When the electricity came back on, he said, everyone was elated. It was a great celebration.

His best experience was making fried pies in the fireplace with camping tools. His mother-in-law also stayed in his house. Holloway said it was a nice family time.

During the storm, they started to work with the help of some family friends to remove all the debris from his property.

Holloway said that they worked on repairs and removal of tree branches all the way into the spring.

Ice storm anniversary evokes memories

By: Ashlee Lubniewski

In December of 2007, there was an ice storm so memorable that many say this December is the one year anniversary of the event that wreaked so much havoc on the city of Tulsa. This ice storm resulted in areas all over the city to be layered with thick ice. It also resulted in many residents who had no power for days, or even weeks, depending on their location in the city.

The ice storm left Tulsa citizens feeling helpless and wondering when they would once again have power and life would return to normal. The amount of damage done by the ice storm allowed it to be crowned with the name of the Great Tulsa Ice Storm of 2007, and the title of being one of the worst natural disasters that has ever struck the state of Oklahoma.

Ronnie-Rashaud Brown remembers the devastating effects that the ice storm took on his household at 5615 E. 23rd Street.

"I walked outside one morning to drive to school, and the huge tree in my front yard had fallen and blocked my entire driveway," said the University of Tulsa junior.

Trees such as the one that fell on Brown’s driveway not only kept people from getting to work and school, but also knocked out power all around the city, including Brown’s power.

"It was a long week with a tree blocking my driveway and no heat or power. Thankfully I had just gone shopping and had a lot of food in the house!" Brown said.

Brown recalls the difficulties of keeping up with classes and getting to work on time. After his power went out, it was only a matter of hours until his computer, cell-phone, and other electronics ran out of power and couldn’t be recharged.

Luckily Brown had friends who lived on campus at TU, where most residents had power thanks to backup generators. Brown, as well as many other commuting students, would visit friends on campus when they could to take showers and do laundry.

"I called friends on campus as soon as I could to arrange rides to campus for classes and work," Brown said. "I would always try and bring my phone and computer with me so that I could recharge them while I was there."

Brown slept at his house during the storm, attempting to keep rooms lit up with candles until he was ready to go to sleep, and remembers being bored without the luxuries of television and internet.

"I don’t think I spend too much time watching television or on the internet. But when I didn’t have those things for an extended period of time, I realized that I took for granted how occupied those things kept me when I wanted something to do," Brown said.

Brown is not alone when he expresses his gratitude that this December, Tulsa has not experienced anything near the ice storm that hit the city last year. As the rest of winter progresses, citizens hope that this winter will pass through with nothing more than some cold weather and the necessity of a heavy jacket or two.

Tulsa Ice Storm: One year later

Orien Landis looks at bare shelves at local grocery store during the 2007 ice storm.

By Kevin Genske

Last December Northeast Oklahoma was hit by one of the worst storms in state history. It wasn’t a tornado or a flood but instead an ice storm. The storm which left many areas covered in several inches of ice knocked out power to 640,000 residents making it one of the worst natural disasters in state history.

Oklahoma residents lived without power for days and even weeks until utility companies could remove all the downed trees and power lines. Without heat or power residents scrambled to find warm places to weather the storm. For Matt Spencer that place was the home a friend.

“I had an apartment on the other side of the Arkansas river, across from downtown. I lost power for a little more than a week. After the first two days I decided I needed to go stay somewhere else,” Spencer said.

Spencer wasn’t the only person looking for a place to stay. Hotels with power were booked solid almost immediately leaving residents to call family and friends hoping someone would have power.

“My family was living in Edmond and I wasn’t about to try and drive there in the ice so I started calling all my friends. My friend Orien didn’t have power but he had a wood furnace so I stayed with him and a couple of other people,” Spencer said.

Not only did the ice storm knock out power to thousands of residents and businesses it also led to a rush on grocery stores and gas stations. People were buying every perishable food item they could because they didn’t know how long the power would be out. Gas stations were running out of gasoline with people buying gas to run their generators.

“After I got to Orien’s house we decided we should go pick up some milk and bread. I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life! The shelves were all bare. It was like something you saw in pictures from the great depression or from a war zone. It was really weird. Needless to say we didn’t get any milk or bread,” Spencer said.

Spencer said he spent a week with his friend in Bixby until the power in his apartment was back on. While he’s grateful that he had a warm place to stay he doesn’t want to experience anything like that again.

“It was horrible. I’ve never felt so powerless in my life, and I’m not just talking about not having power. I hope I never have to go through anything like ever again.

Ice Storm Stories: The Great Ice Storm of 2007

By John Cope

Brenda Manasco remembers the sound of branches breaking during the Monday morning after the largest ice storm in recent memory hit Tulsa last year.

“It sounded like a ship breaking in half,” Manasco said.

The ice storm that hit Tulsa and the surrounding area in December of 2007 was one of the most adverse weather events that has occurred in the Tulsa area in a long time. A large wintry mix of precipitation hit in the overnight hours between Saturday, December 8^th and Sunday, December 9^th.

The ice that covered trees and power lines across the city resulted in the most massive power outage in Tulsa in recent memory. Most people in the city experienced an outage for some amount of time, and some residents were out of power for weeks.

Due to the power outages and terrible conditions, very few schools, restaurants, and other businesses were open during the storm. The freezing temperatures, icy roads, and lack of electricity to help heat most people’s homes combined to create a very perilous situation.

Manasco, who lives near 11^th and Harvard, was out of power for over a week. Manasco and her family used a gas stove to heat the house. When there was no ice to cool their food, Manasco simply went outside and put ice pellets that had fallen off trees into her cooler.

Manasco also used scented candles to help heat her home. She said that the entire scented candle aisles at Walmart and at the local Bass Pro Shop were cleared out.

Raquel Garcia, who lives in east Tulsa near 31^st and Garnett, lost her power for four days.

Garcia recounts that two of her next door neighbors tried to keep their house warm with a charcoal grill. After a time, the neighbors came to Garcia’s house, where she found that they had apparently inhaled carbon monoxide.

Garcia called 911 to get the neighbors medical attention. The paramedics took the neighbors to the hospital.

Carmen Lau, a resident of Broken Arrow, had to have her scheduled back surgery postponed for two days because of the ice storm. Her family was without power for two days.

Lau and her family found refuge at her brother’s house.

“Sometimes nature calls the shots,” Lau said.

Cheryl Taylor, who lives in the neighborhood northwest of 61^st and Lewis, also had vivid memories of the ice storm.

“There were tree limbs in my driveway and up and down the street,” Taylor said. “It was a war zone.”

Taylor had an offer for a free two-night stay at a hotel, but she didn’t take it because she was worried her dogs would freeze in the house. Her house was only about 25 degrees without heat, so she stayed by the fireplace through the cold nights.

Alicia Grass, a PTA board member for Eliot Elementary school, was out of power for ten days because of the storm. Her family tried to get a hotel room once they realized the severity of the storm, but to no avail.

Grass, like many others, ended up seeking solace at a house that had power. Grass went to her grandmother’s house south of Norman. However, her husband was forced to stay and tough out the conditions because he owns a framing company.

Grass said that she and her family played lots of board and card games to cope with the situation.

“If it happens again,” Grass said, “I’m so moving further south.”

Many trees had branches collapse under the weight of ice during the
December 2007 ice storm that hit Tulsa, leaving many roads partially
blocked or even totally impassable. Photo by Brenda Manasco.

Ice Storms in Tulsa

How to Deal: Oklahoma Disaster

By: Ty Page

State-wide weather emergency alerts could not prepare residents of Oklahoma for the ice storm claimed as a natural disaster during the month of December last year, which caused many to lose power in their homes and work. The storm was one to be reckoned with along with the extreme amounts of damage that took place.

Many were faced with making the decision to cope with the power outage while staying at home or seek shelter elsewhere depending on their family and financial situations.

Not only were Oklahoma residents living in rural areas faced with this problem, many bigger city dwellers were forced to deal without electricity and power as well.

“It definitely brought our family closer together because during this time, we were all each other had,” Keith Blalock stated.

Blalock looked back at the situation and explained the tough times his family faced, but tried to point out the positive aspects of the experience. His family consists of his wife and three children who all decided to remain in their home.

The Blalocks lost power for a duration of five days, which was relatively mild compared to other families.

“We decided to keep a fire going in our fireplace and camp out in the living room together,” Blalock said.

As for food, Blalock said they ate most of their meals out of the home since they could not use their kitchen. They also took showers at a relative’s house who maintained power through a generator.

Not all people had the choice of remaining in their homes during this troubling storm.

“All I could remember was a sea of white outside and the trees looked fake with ice covering every inch of them,” Carrie Smith explained.

Smith, a single resident in Tulsa, lived by herself in a home in Tulsa with no family.

When the storm happened, she decided there was no way she could stay at her house by herself.

“I made the decision to stay at a hotel for two weeks with a friend,” Smith said, “I felt like there was no way I would survive this on my own, emotionally or physically.”

Smith was not alone with these feelings. Many Oklahoma residents felt great amounts of stress during and after the ice storm.

After the ice melted and most people regained electricity in their homes, there was still a huge amount of damage to be dealt with.

“I decided to help out my local neighborhood by clearing out branches from driveways and helping elder residents with damage to their homes,” Smith said.

Smith along with many other Tulsa residents participated in similar activities to help reclaim a normal life subsequent to the storm.

“The storm was destructive no doubt, but I think it showed how we Oklahoma residents could pull together and weather such a disaster,” Blalock said.

All in all, most Oklahoma residents can look back at the ice storm in the winter of 2007 and be thankful the situation is over. As for similar events in the future, residents seem to have a better grasp at how to handle such a devastating circumstance.