Full Breakdown
Elevator Outage Leaves Seniors Stranded at Muskogee’s Manhattan Apartments
By Drooid · · How we work
Impact on Residents
A four-day elevator failure at the Manhattan Apartments—located near West Okmulgee Avenue and South Main Street—has forced many senior residents to remain on their floors. 86-year-old Ramona Prater, who lives on the fifth floor, says she cannot safely use the stairs and missed her regular church service. Her daughter, Teresa Redmond, expressed concern that an emergency would overwhelm local responders if residents could not be evacuated.
Management Response
Garrison Companies, the property manager, confirmed that the elevators are slated for repair by Oct 13 and that staff are available to assist residents who need help navigating the stairs. The company did not provide a timeline for when full service will resume beyond the scheduled repair date.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just think about if some emergency were to happen, it would take all of the emergency services here in town to get these people out,” — Main Street. Teresa Redmond
- “I’m 86 years old. I don’t want to try and go down the stairs,” — Ramona Prater
- “I couldn’t go to church yesterday because I couldn’t get out,” — Ramona Prater
Context and Outlook
The outage highlights the vulnerability of high-rise housing for older adults when essential services fail. While assistance is being offered, residents like Prater remain confined to their apartments, underscoring the need for contingency plans in senior-dense buildings. The scheduled repair date offers a near-term resolution, but the incident raises broader questions about emergency preparedness for similar residential complexes in Muskogee and comparable communities.