[MainstreetManagers] FW: Wagoner Fire

[Kelli Yadon]

Thank you, Destiny!!
State Staff - I have forwarded to Janice....

From: Main Street Duncan [mailto:mainstreetduncan at sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2017 1:09 PM
To: Kelli Yadon <Kelli.Yadon at okcommerce.gov>; MainstreetManagers at lists.onenet.net
Subject: RE: [MainstreetManagers] FW: Wagoner Fire

VERY surprised it only took a few hours to put out the fire, our one building took all day to put out completely.

Get ready for a long road ahead, Wagoner!


1.       Your merchants will be displaced temporarily due to lack of internet, phone lines, etc. but that will be remedied soon by the utility companies.


2.       I would recommend speaking to your Small Business Development Center to have a disaster recovery workshop. Even if it's just a conversation between two people on Facebook live, there will be some key info there to moving forward quickly.


3.       If your property owners can coordinate the same company (we used Gill's 580.353.2101) to remove the debri, the site will be cleaned up quicker. They likely won't have enough debri removal insurance which seems to be a normal thing.


4.       Chain link should be placed around the damaged area ASAP to avoid critters, animals, kids, and people from entering the area and looting/potentially hurting themselves.



5.       If the property owners HAVE to wait for insurance money to come in before starting the clean-up process, get ready to get the City involved. The insurance companies will take their sweet time with all the inspections and whatnot that will have to happen. Eventually, the City will get involved because it will be such a huge risk/danger to anyone that comes near the area.



6.       Members of the community reached out to MSD immediately, during both fires, to donate money to go towards the effected property owners. Instead, we coordinated with a local bank for all donations to be taken there so the organization wasn't directly involved in the financial exchange (too messy/complicated).



7.       IMO, a couple of press releases aren't a bad idea. The first, a quick explanation of what happened. The second, a quick explanation of what will happen. Everything else about the speculation of what caused it, whose fault is it, etc. is just gossip and not necessary. If you dictate the message to the media, the rumors will cease. I'm not suggesting foul play, just know what it's like being in a small town -a fire is A LOT to talk about for the next few years. Promise.



8.       This is a great opportunity to meet with your existing businesses about a Disaster Preparedness plan. Are they reviewing the insurance coverage annually with an agent? Is their staff protected in the event of a disaster, etc.?


Having recently gone through this, I'm happy to help if I can. Prayers for those effected and the town of Wagoner all the way from Duncan, so sorry for your loss.

PS
Saying thanks to your fire crew goes a long ways; I know those people worked hard in the heat!

From: MainstreetManagers [mailto:mainstreetmanagers-bounces at lists.onenet.net] On Behalf Of Kelli Yadon
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2017 10:04 AM
To: MainstreetManagers at lists.onenet.net<mailto:MainstreetManagers at lists.onenet.net>
Subject: [MainstreetManagers] FW: Wagoner Fire


From: Janice Turney [mailto:usedstuf at valornet.com]
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2017 7:29 AM
To: Buffy Hughes <Buffy.Hughes at okcommerce.gov<mailto:Buffy.Hughes at okcommerce.gov>>
Subject: Re: Main Street Fire

Good morning, Buffy.  It took about 3-4 hours to put out the fire.  One building was the equivalent of 2 buildings and then 2 more.  We are guessing electrical, but we don't know sure.  It started in the auction building and moved north through Owl Drug and Scott Landon's building, gutted all of them.  If you (Okla. Main Street, have been through this before,  any and all information will be helpful and appreciated.  Thank you so much for asking.  Janice A. Turney, President, Wagoner Switch District., 918-232-6771



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