Owners Say Tornado Closes Riverside Mobile Home Park For Good

The future is uncertain for those who live at the Riverside Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs. Owners say they won't be reopening after an EF2 tornado ripped apart dozens of homes.

Thursday, April 2nd 2015, 7:19 pm

By: Tess Maune

Owners Say Tornado Closes Riverside Mobile Home Park For Good

The future is uncertain for those who live at the Riverside Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs. Owners say they won't be reopening after an EF2 tornado ripped apart dozens of homes last week.

Now, many of the residents will have to find a place to rebuild their lives.

“Just by the grace of God, we're here,” storm victim Jennifer Easley said. “Look around, there's not that many trailers standing. We're one of the four that's standing.”

Almost all of the park's mobile homes were destroyed during last Wednesday's tornado.

“Well, we'll just have to find us another place to live,” Easley said.

4/2/2015 Related Story: Sen. Lankford Tours Tornado-Ravaged Sand Springs Mobile Home Park

Jennifer and Mike Easley say they've lived on the property for 15 years.

More than half of their home is now covered with a blue tarp to keep the outside from coming inside.

They're still waiting on word as to whether their trailer can be restored.

“I can't do nothing until the insurance adjuster gets here,” Jennifer Easley said.

The couple just had their power restored, but the water hasn't been turned back on.

They've been relying on the Red Cross for food and water.

“I know I'm blessed, and I know the Lord had his hand up on me,” Jennifer Easley said.

She said they were told to be off the property by Saturday.

“I think they ought to have more compassion for people that's going through this,” she said.

But the landlord's son-in-law said there's more time than that.

“It's heartbreaking,” Andrew Alexander said. “Everyone's stuff is just gone.”

Alexander said those in the park have a few weeks to find a new place to plant their roots, but they need to be out before the end of April.

We want to be clear, there are two mobile home parks side by side. Both had a lot of damage, and the park that is closing is Riverside.

The neighboring park, River Oaks, will stay open -- and the plan is to get things back to normal as soon as possible.

There have been a lot of volunteers in the area, and the owners of both parks say they would be grateful for any more help that comes along.