Claremore women's shelter evacuated after sewage backup

An emergency women's shelter in Claremore is doing everything it can to get back up and running after a sewage backup caused about 30 people to evacuate. Those women and children now have safe places to stay at other shelters across the state.

The emergency shelter has 35 beds for anyone getting help after a domestic violence situation, sexual assault, or stalking.

The shelter’s executive director said it stays full most of the time, and some women were driven hours across the state by officials, just to find an available bed.

Flooring is being ripped away, hallways are drying out, and nothing is where it should be at the Safenet Services shelter in Claremore.

“It’s chaotic. It’s a crisis. It’s traumatizing,” Executive Director Jody Moore said.

Nearly every office space, conference room, and bedroom is impacted.

"We had a client that said that they felt like it was the Titanic, and they were just waiting for the water to get to them,” Moore said.

Moore said arrangements were made within two hours on Friday morning. Employees needed to get 30 women and children to another safe place.

"I know that there was just a clog in the pipe and once that was released, the water was able to start going back down a little bit,” Moore said. “But it was probably just a little over an hour, hour and a half, and the damage that was caused is just unreal."

"We are drying everything out. And tearing everything that the sewage has hit. If it's touched it, we have to get it out,” ER Restoration Co-Owner Robby Reed said.

Reed said the demo is expected to take all week, and then construction can begin.

"I'm not a big crier, but it kinda makes me want to cry,” Moore said. “I think of it in terms of the clients that we're not able to serve right now."

Moore knows the need for shelter is great, and is eager to get the doors open as soon as possible.

"It's gonna take a community to wrap around this, and we have one of the best communities,” she said.

The Crisis Line is still open, and people who answer the phone can direct people to other agencies for help. That number to call, if someone in the Claremore area needs help, is (918) 341-9400.

Safenet is also looking for a place for its employees to work, so things like counseling and case management can continue.