THE SMALL TOWN. THIS DOLLAR TREE DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN MARIETTA WAS IN THE DIRECT PATH OF AN EF FOUR TORNADO. NOW HUNDREDS OF OKLAHOMANS WILL HAVE TO FIND NEW JOBS AS THIS MAJOR EMPLOYER SHUTS DOWN. IT’S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT FROM A JOBS PERSPECTIVE. THE SMALL TOWN OF MARIETTA WILL LOSE ITS BIGGEST EMPLOYER FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE BECAUSE OF TORNADO DAMAGE. THE APRIL 27TH TORNADO DESTROYED THE DOLLAR TREE DISTRIBUTION CENTER. STROUD WINDS RIPPED APART THE MIDDLE OF THE BUILDING, EXPOSING SHELVES OF DAMAGED INVENTORY. IT’S JUST HOPEFULLY A TEMPORARY CLOSE. UH, BUT BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO REBUILD, UH, THEY, UH, UH, HAD TO GO AHEAD AND LAY OFF THEIR EMPLOYEES IN A CITY OF NEARLY 3000, THE WAREHOUSE IS EMPLOYED MORE THAN 450 PEOPLE. THE MAYOR OF MARIETTA SAYS THIS IS A LOSS THAT WILL BE FELT BEYOND CITY LIMITS TOMORROW OR FIRST AND NEXT WEEK. I’VE GOT A MEETING WITH, UH, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF ARDMORE, AND, UH, WE’LL BE FOCUSING ON, UH, WHERE POSSIBLE JOBS ARE. BUT IN THE CASE OF A DOLLAR TREE, UH, EMPLOYEES, THEY WERE PAID PRETTY WELL. AND SO FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND FIND A SIMILAR JOB, PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO DO. A SPOKESPERSON FOR DOLLAR TREE TOLD KOCO. BECAUSE THE FACILITY CANNOT REOPEN IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THEY HAD TO CLOSE. EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE PAY THROUGH JUNE 22ND, ALONG WITH SEVERANCE PACKAGES AND BENEFITS. DOLLAR TREE SAYS THEY ARE STILL ASSESSING WHETHER THE CENTER CAN
Marietta mayor says Dollar Tree distribution center closure hits hard for residents
After taking a direct, devastating hit from an EF-4 tornado in late April, the closure of the Dollar Tree distribution center in Marietta has left hundreds out of work.
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Updated: 6:18 PM CDT May 30, 2024
After taking a direct, devastating hit from an EF-4 tornado in late April, the closure of the Dollar Tree distribution center in Marietta has left hundreds out of work."It’s been very important from a jobs perspective," Mayor Kermit McKinney said of the distribution center, which is the city's biggest employer.In a city of nearly 3,000 people, the warehouse employed more than 450 people. The April 27 storm ripped apart the middle of the building, exposing shelves of damaged inventory."It’s hopefully just a temporary close. But because they knew it was going to take some time to rebuild, they had to go ahead and lay off their employees," he said.McKinney said the loss would be felt beyond city limits."Tomorrow or the first of next week, I’ve got a meeting with the chamber of commerce of Ardmore, and we’ll be focusing on where possible jobs are," he said. "In the case of Dollar Tree employees, they were paid really well. So, for them to be able to go out and find a job paying the similar amount of money might be harder to do."A spokesperson for Dollar Tree told KOCO 5 that they were forced to close because the facility cannot reopen in the foreseeable future. Employees will receive pay through June 22, along with severance packages and benefits.The company said they are still assessing whether the center can be rebuilt.Top Headlines Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes TIMELINE: Multiple waves of storms to bring risk of strong winds, severe weather on Thursday Suspect arrested after crashing stolen RV into drainage ditch during Oklahoma City pursuit Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, a study finds Police investigating after two break-ins, cars stolen at Edmond dealership
MARIETTA, Okla. — After taking a direct, devastating hit from an EF-4 tornado in late April, the closure of the Dollar Tree distribution center in Marietta has left hundreds out of work.
"It’s been very important from a jobs perspective," Mayor Kermit McKinney said of the distribution center, which is the city's biggest employer.
In a city of nearly 3,000 people, the warehouse employed more than 450 people. The April 27 storm ripped apart the middle of the building, exposing shelves of damaged inventory.
"It’s hopefully just a temporary close. But because they knew it was going to take some time to rebuild, they had to go ahead and lay off their employees," he said.
McKinney said the loss would be felt beyond city limits.
"Tomorrow or the first of next week, I’ve got a meeting with the chamber of commerce of Ardmore, and we’ll be focusing on where possible jobs are," he said. "In the case of Dollar Tree employees, they were paid really well. So, for them to be able to go out and find a job paying the similar amount of money might be harder to do."
A spokesperson for Dollar Tree told KOCO 5 that they were forced to close because the facility cannot reopen in the foreseeable future. Employees will receive pay through June 22, along with severance packages and benefits.
The company said they are still assessing whether the center can be rebuilt.
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