April 6th, 2025 flood
In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 6th, a major water main beneath 1st Street in Ponca City ruptured directly in front of NERA’s Food and Resource Center. For approximately ninety minutes, thousands of gallons of water surged through the two east-facing doors of the facility, pooling throughout nearly every room. Some areas saw standing water as deep as three inches, soaking into floors and drywall and leaving significant damage in its wake.
The flooding was first discovered around 8:30 a.m. by a local contractor who had arrived to wax the floors. He immediately notified NERA staff, who mobilized quickly. Within the hour, employees and volunteers began pushing out water and using vacuums in an effort to minimize long-term damage. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Executive Director, Christopher Radaker-James, made the difficult decision to cancel food services for the following day.
As the extent of the damage became more apparent, it was clear that operations would be disrupted for much longer than initially expected. With over 200 neighbors scheduled to receive food that week, the team faced a sobering reality: some of the community’s most vulnerable families might go without vital support.
But the spirit of NERA—and the community—proved stronger than the crisis. By Wednesday, dedicated volunteers were packing emergency grocery boxes for what would become NERA’s first-ever drive-thru food distribution. On Friday, dozens of additional volunteers arrived to serve more than 100 households. One week after the flood, the facility reopened its doors.
Recovery efforts continue in May. NERA leadership is actively working with the city and insurance providers to restore damaged walls, flooring, office equipment, and the facility’s parking, which sustained significant erosion due to the floodwaters. Despite these ongoing challenges, there is renewed hope.
"I am overwhelmed with the support we’ve received from the community and local partners like the Phillips 66 refinery," one NERA leader shared. "As we uncovered the damage, reopening felt nearly impossible—but our staff and volunteers made miracles happen."
As of Early May, NERA continues to meet increased demand and serve families who missed earlier distributions. Wait times may be longer than usual. NERA extends our deepest gratitude to our neighbors for their patience and, most of all, to our incredible volunteers and donors. Sincere thanks is due to those who donated commercial fans, dehumidifiers, and other equipment that played a critical role in drying and preserving the facility. Your generosity helped accelerate recovery and limit further damage. To our community, your dedication in the face of adversity has truly been heroic.
Please see pictures of the flooding below. Video from some of our security cameras may be added here in the future.
The flooding was first discovered around 8:30 a.m. by a local contractor who had arrived to wax the floors. He immediately notified NERA staff, who mobilized quickly. Within the hour, employees and volunteers began pushing out water and using vacuums in an effort to minimize long-term damage. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Executive Director, Christopher Radaker-James, made the difficult decision to cancel food services for the following day.
As the extent of the damage became more apparent, it was clear that operations would be disrupted for much longer than initially expected. With over 200 neighbors scheduled to receive food that week, the team faced a sobering reality: some of the community’s most vulnerable families might go without vital support.
But the spirit of NERA—and the community—proved stronger than the crisis. By Wednesday, dedicated volunteers were packing emergency grocery boxes for what would become NERA’s first-ever drive-thru food distribution. On Friday, dozens of additional volunteers arrived to serve more than 100 households. One week after the flood, the facility reopened its doors.
Recovery efforts continue in May. NERA leadership is actively working with the city and insurance providers to restore damaged walls, flooring, office equipment, and the facility’s parking, which sustained significant erosion due to the floodwaters. Despite these ongoing challenges, there is renewed hope.
"I am overwhelmed with the support we’ve received from the community and local partners like the Phillips 66 refinery," one NERA leader shared. "As we uncovered the damage, reopening felt nearly impossible—but our staff and volunteers made miracles happen."
As of Early May, NERA continues to meet increased demand and serve families who missed earlier distributions. Wait times may be longer than usual. NERA extends our deepest gratitude to our neighbors for their patience and, most of all, to our incredible volunteers and donors. Sincere thanks is due to those who donated commercial fans, dehumidifiers, and other equipment that played a critical role in drying and preserving the facility. Your generosity helped accelerate recovery and limit further damage. To our community, your dedication in the face of adversity has truly been heroic.
Please see pictures of the flooding below. Video from some of our security cameras may be added here in the future.
