Tahlequah Residents Clean-Up Ice Damage

Heavy ice weighed down just about everything in Tahlequah -- trees, power lines, even Northeastern State University's three-year-old indoor practice facility.

Monday, February 2nd 2009, 5:35 pm

By: News On 6

By Craig Day, News On 6

TAHLEQUAH, OK -- While some Oklahomans are still without power, others have moved on to cleaning-up after the ice storm. Heavy ice weighed down just about everything in Tahlequah -- trees, power lines, even Northeastern State University's three-year-old indoor practice facility.

"This was the worst accumulation of ice we've seen during that time, so you really just start holding your breath and crossing your fingers as to what may occur," said Tim Foutch, NSU Associate Vice President.

More than three tons of ice, combined with a power outage, caused NSU's giant bubble to collapse, tearing holes in it in the process.

But now, it's been repaired and is being re-inflated.

"We're very fortunate, we dodged a nature bullet here and we'll get by with minor costs and minor damage and we'll have a fully restored facility here in a matter of a day or two," said Foutch.

While this ice storm story has a happy ending, there are still plenty of other places all around the area where the recovery process is going to take much longer. Weeks, possibly even months.

That includes the Oklahoma United Methodist Children's home.

"That's a monstrous tree isn't it," said Jane Anderson, United Methodist Children's Home.

About 100 trees there have damage. Limbs missed hitting any buildings, but littered the campus.

"Trees are a blessing. They provide us with a lot of shade and beauty, but there is a lot of maintenance to trees," said Anderson.

Volunteers have already started clean-up on the 250 acre campus, but there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done.

"You know, we're nonprofit, Craig. And we have to depend on volunteers to come and help us because we don't have it in the budget for clean-up," said Anderson.

The United Methodist Children's Home hopes people willing to lend a hand come forward to help clean-up what the winter storm left behind.

If you or your group or organization wants to help with clean-up at the United Methodist Children's Home, call 918-456-6166.