Dollar Tree distribution center employees question future after Oklahoma tornado

MARIETTA, Okla. (KFOR) — Tornado damage to the Dollar Tree distribution center in Marietta has some employees concerned about the future status of their employment and the building.

The Saturday night EF4 tornado tore through the center, which opened in 2003; before expanding in 2013.

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

The distribution center’s parent company confirmed that none of its 456 associates were injured at the facility. It said it’s also working to support impacted employees through the recovery process, including temporary work relocation and access to a relief fund.

“I started stressing out,” said employee Martin Sanchez. “Started overthinking things like, oh my God what are we going to do now?”

Sanchez said the company has been very communicative with him and his fellow co-workers, letting them know they aren’t in this alone.

“Get paid for the next 30 days,” said Sanchez. “Then on May 21st, it’s going to be an update there.”

Sanchez said the center is an economic hub for the area and that as much reassurance as he’s getting, there are still some unknowns.

“I don’t know what step to take,” said Sanchez. “We don’t know where to go right now. There’s a lot of uncertainties with the building. We don’t know if it’s going to be rebuilt.”

Governor Kevin Stitt visited Marietta on Tuesday, surveying damage around the community and touching on the economic blow to the area.

“This is a big, big economic driver for this community,” said Stitt. “It’s certainly a loss to the families that work there.”

⏩ Find more coverage of the deadly tornado outbreak

Stitt said the state’s unemployment office will be working with Oklahomans to help fill in the gap.

Sanchez said he’s heard potential ideas being floated around asking for names of employees who’d be willing to relocate.

“We do have a warehouse in Houston, and a warehouse in Missouri,” said Sanchez.

Sanchez said he’d consider it, but knows that’s not something every employee would be on board with.

“I’ve talked to my team,” said Sanchez. “Half of them are saying no because their families are here.”

Sanchez said structural engineers visited the center this week and provided some information in regards to the building’s integrity.

“They were saying that the wall separated a little bit,” said Sanchez. “So that could be a potential big rebuild like complete tear down, but we still don’t know.”

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