Community comes together to clean debris in Bartlesville after tornado

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Piles and piles of green waste and debris from the May 6 tornado are getting cleared out from the curbs.

Bartlesville Public Works started the pick-up Monday at 6 a.m.

Volunteers help put the bundles together to put on residential curbs.

“It's kind of a group effort,” said Brian Bartholme, a volunteer from Indiana serving with Samaritan’s Purse . “A lot of times the community gets together, which is happening here and it's really awesome. People are really really connecting here.”

Samaritan’s Purse arrived in Bartlesville on May 7. They canvassed hard-hit neighborhoods to help homeowners recover.

“We just try and go out, drive around and find out where the hotspots are where the people are in need,” Bartholme said.

“That's how we show God's love. It's like, the work. I mean, you can talk all you want and sometimes it just doesn't mean anything. But when you actually do work and physical labor, and help these people, they see that,” he said.

Bartlesville Public Works started in the most heavily impacted areas –the southwest and northeast parts of town. Then they will move to more isolated areas.

Brian and the group of volunteers will continue coordinating with the City of Bartlesville for as long as it takes.

“We don't leave. We want to be first in and last out. We want to be here. We want to help. If we take work orders, we don't leave until they're done and we don't want to leave until everybody we can help has been helped,” Bartholme added.

The storm debris curbside pick-up is free for people who live within Bartlesville city limits and had damage from the May 6 tornado.

The city says your green waste needs to be in 6-foot bundles and less than 50 pounds.

If you have other storm debris, such as roofing and fencing, keep that separate.

For questions, call Bartlesville Public Works at 918-338-4130.