Red Cross Shelter Providing For Those In Need After Cushing Earthquake

One of the buildings damaged by an earthquake that shook Cushing Sunday night was the Cimarron Tower, which houses apartments for senior citizens.

More than 40 people had to be removed from the building and more than a dozen are still at a shelter the Red Cross set up.

People have been coming in and out of the Cushing Youth Center all day; Red Cross workers were able to put the shelter together within three hours of the earthquake.

11/7/2016 Related Story: Cushing Public Buildings Closed As Earthquake Damage Assessed

Huge chunks of brick and mortar are missing from the top of Cimarron Tower, and many of the people who lived there lived in some of the higher up floors.

Emergency crews on the ground continue to assess the damage - they even sent a drone up to get a closer look up top.

Red Cross workers say they are used to jumping into action to provide shelter after a tornado, hurricane and even small family fires, but some of the long-term volunteers and representatives say this is the first time in Oklahoma they've had to provide shelter after an earthquake.

Wes Carter with Red Cross said, "We usually meet people on one of the worse days of their lives; a time when their world has literally been turned upside down. And so we're there, we're that first line of defense to offer you the basic needs, you know, food, water, shelter, privacy, just that ability to go and collect your thoughts. That's what we are here for."

Since there is no chance people staying at the shelter will be able to return to their home Monday, the Red Cross is making sure the people who have to stay there have what they need.

They had 14 people stay the night Sunday night but said that number could change Monday evening.