Dollar Tree’s Oklahoma Distribution Center Decimated by Tornado

A tornado struck a Dollar Tree distribution center in Marietta, Oklahoma on Saturday night, inflicting significant damage to the building’s roof and exterior.

This 1-million-square-foot facility, which is situated about 15 miles from the Oklahoma-Texas border, serves as a supply hub for Dollar Tree stores across 11 states including Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.

A tornado ripped through Marietta, Oklahoma, destroying a Dollar Tree distribution center and flipping semis. #OKwx pic.twitter.com/D0rAjfi6vq

— AccuWeather (@accuweather) April 28, 2024

The impact of the tornado was devastating, tearing open a corner of the warehouse and extending the destruction to the center of the structure. Inside, boxes and pallets were hurled from their storage spots, scattering across the floor, while outside, semi-trucks and cars were also tossed around the vicinity.

Currently, there is no established timeline for the repair and reopening of the distribution center.

Images from Marietta, OK Tornado. Would appear as if cars and semis were tossed off the interstate last night next to the Dollar Tree DC that was impressively shredded to bits. #OKwx pic.twitter.com/2y46FeJfdF

— Aaron Rigsby (@AaronRigsbyOSC) April 28, 2024

In response to the severe weather and the widespread damage it caused, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency across 12 counties. The storms led to four fatalities and left nearly 30,000 residents without electricity late into Saturday night.

Another blow for Dollar Tree

The warehouse, initially opened in 2003 with 603,000 square feet, expanded by an additional 400,000 square feet in 2013. Despite these expansions, the company faced financial challenges; Dollar Tree and Family Dollar reported combined net sales of $8.63 billion for the fourth quarter, a rise of 11.9% from the previous year, yet the company reported a net loss of $1.71 billion, compared to a net income of $452.2 million from the previous year.

Moreover, this tornado is not the only time Dollar Tree has been in the news this year. In February, a facility in Arkansas was fined $41.7 million for a severe rodent infestation from 2020 to 2022, marking the largest monetary penalty ever imposed by the U.S. government for a food safety violation. This distribution center, closed in May 2022, is scheduled to resume full operations by the fall of 2024.

Subscribe to the Supply Chain 24/7 Newsletter and get supply chain, warehouse, and transportation news delivered directly to your inbox.