SALLISAW, Okla. -- Businesses in Sallisaw are recovering after flood waters entered businesses.
“The water was right about to here,” Simple Simon’s Pizza owner Harold Powell said pointing to a stair in his restaurant. “Just went up to the first step to the little upstairs area.”
Powell said he got a call from his employees Sunday morning at around 7:00 a.m. saying water was rising around the business.
Powell said he and his employees put sand bags in front of the doors to keep the water out but ended up getting between six and 10 inches inside.
Disheartening is the way Powell described it.
“My children have grown up here,” Powell said. “This has been our home for 27 years.”
There is now very little damage visible to the naked eye. Powell said the water receded after about seven hours Sunday afternoon.
Walls, carpet and some of the products like pizza boxes were damaged by the water.
Employees have been working tirelessly to sterilize everything inside the store to get the pizza shop everyone loves back open.
“We have four or five generations of people that have been coming in here and eating with us heart at Sallisaw Simple Simon’s Pizza,” Powell said. “We are not going to jeopardize that.”
As of now, Powell estimates between $10,000 and $20,000 worth of damage. He also said he does not have flood insurance, because in the 27 years the business has been open, it has not flooded.
“It’s good to be blessed and have God’s protection,” Powell said. “Some people would question this as protection. I have to look at the situation around and what could have happened and how much worse it could be.”
Simple Simon’s planned to re-open its drive-thru for dinner. Not only do they want to cater to their loyal customers, the revenue is important to get the business back up and running.
The flood waters were blamed for the train derailment Sunday, as well.
Central Schools in Sequoyah County were closed Monday and will remain closed Tuesday.
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