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The Dollar Tree distribution center that got ravaged by a tornado in April appears unlikely to reopen any time soon.
In a statement, the discount retailer confirmed the 1-million-square-foot Marietta, Okla.-based facility cannot be reopened “in the foreseeable future.”
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The April 27 tornado ripped through the distribution center, essentially tearing through the building at one of its corners, with the damage from the tornado expanding all the through to the center of the building. Portions of the roof and one side of the exterior was ripped off, exposing hundreds of shelves and boxes inside. Pieces of the building were blown across the interstate into nearby fields, while semi-trucks and cars outside the facility were flung across the area nearby.
There were no injuries when the tornado directly hit the warehouse.
“As you have seen from the images, our Marietta distribution center (DC) was demolished following the tornados that swept through the community in April,” said a Dollar Tree spokesperson. “Given the facility cannot be reopened in the foreseeable future, we met with our DC team recently to share the incredibly difficult news that the warehouse will close at this time.”
The future of the 456 associates who are employed at the distribution center remains in limbo. Associates will receive pay continuation through June 22, Dollar Tree said in the statement. Employees will also receive severance packages, benefits and access to the retailer’s emotional wellbeing resources.
Dollar Tree already said it had offered temporary work relocation throughout the recovery process, and granted them access to a relief fund. The closest warehouse to the Marietta location is a Family Dollar distribution center in Duncan, Okla. residing 80 miles northwest. Three Dollar Tree facilities are located further way in neighboring states: one in Warrensburg, Mo. outside of Kansas City and two in San Antonio and Rosenberg, Texas.
“We are incredibly grateful for this remarkable team and we remain committed to supporting them through this challenging time,” the company said. “While we hope to have a Distribution Center to welcome associates back to in the future, we are still assessing our go-forward options. As proud members of the Marietta community for more than 20 years, this region remains extremely important to the Dollar Tree family and to our broader supply chain network.”