By Alex Hassel, Storage.com
U-Haul is offering a helping hand to flood victims in Lawton, Okla. After heavy rains caused flooding that damaged homes and even required water rescues, the company is offering 30 days of free self storage and U-Box container usage to those who were impacted in the area.
KSWO reports that the flood arrived on June 12, 2016. Besides the flooding, the dam at Lake George overflowed, making the water rise faster. Weather.com cited a report from the National Weather Service that several cars were stranded in floodwater near Sheridan and B Streets. High water also forced Interstate 44 near Rogers Lane to shut down. Torrential rains even caused the roof of the JCPenney store at Lawton’s Central Mall to collapse. Worst of all, more than four feet of water rushed into homes on the east side of Lawton.
“It completely destroyed my house and my vehicles,” Bill Doolin, one victim, told KSWO.
Doolin and his family escaped through a window to evade rising water. They had planned on moving higher and higher in the house until the rushing water passed, but that changed when neighbors walked through the torrent of water outside the home to check on them.
“We got out, clung to the house on the west side, and then swam around on the north side. We picked up the current. It was probably anywhere from five to seven feet. The taller ones and the stronger men pushed from behind and pushed us all up about 100 yards on Heritage Drive and saved us,” he said.
While the flooding wasn’t widespread, many homes were destroyed, and the families that lived in them are starting over. For those who have been able to salvage anything, U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lawton, at 1102 Cache Rd., is offering them free storage.
“U-Haul is a proud and longstanding member of the Lawton community, and we want to help our neighbors,” Scott Brackin, U-Haul Company of Oklahoma City President, said in a release. “Those who have been affected by flooding can use dry, safe, and secure storage while they get back on their feet. We want people to know U-Haul is there for them and will continue to be in the future.”
U-Haul stores also offer storm recovery supplies like boxes, tarps, propane tanks, and more.
Image provided by U-Haul.
Alex Hassel is News Reporter for Storage.com. If you’d like to pitch Alex a self storage industry news story, email alex.hassel@storage.com or call 402-779-7328.
