Woman Helps Tornado-Ravaged Remington Tower Businesses Get Back To Work

A generous Tulsa woman is helping nearly 200 tenants from the tornado-damaged Remington Tower get "Back to Business."

Many of those businesses are just getting their hands on vital paperwork and materials. 

They don't know when or if they'll ever get back to work in the Remington Tower.

But for now they are working in a donated space.

The boxes of business paperwork and material line the hallways.

Just one day ago it all sat in the tornado-ravaged Remington Tower.

"The storm took us by storm," said Tina Wilkerson of Mars, Inc. 

It'll take a while to move the boxes and unpack them.

But after nearly two weeks of not working, Wilkerson and her colleagues don't mind.

"No one was there at the time that the tornado did come through. So we are thankful for that and then to have Ms. Dyer come into our lives," Wilkerson said.

She's talking about Jessica Dyer. 

Dyer is one of many people to help the nearly 200 businesses get back to business.

"She opened up her doors. She gave us a home," Wilkerson said.

Dyer's been called an angel for what she's done. 

But she says that title is too high.

"We're all just doing what we can to help each other out," Dyer said.

Dyer bought an old college building just days before the tornado. 

Her plan is to turn it into a pediatric therapy center. 

But with all this space, for now it has a more important use.

"We drove in and saw our building was OK. My first thought is how blessed we are. But my second thought those poor people. What can I do to help?" Dyer said.

So with planning and support she's opened her doors for free.

As a small business owner she knows two weeks without work is devastating.

"Two hundred businesses being wiped off the map has a huge economic impact. You've got hundreds of people without a place to go to work every day," Dyer said.

She says, she's not special —just doing her duty. 

"We feel very blessed," Wilkerson said.

Governor Mary Fallin requested a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration for Tulsa County to assist those impacted by the tornadoes and other severe weather.

If approved, the governor’s request would make available SBA low-interest disaster loans for business owners, homeowners and renters to repair or replace any property that was damaged by the severe storms, but was not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.

The businesses still need a lot of help. 

If you need help or want to help them, visit www.backtobusinesstulsa.com.