To say Jennifer Fogg and her crew have been “working hard” the past few weeks wouldn’t begin to tell their story.

Fogg is CEO of the ASSETT Group of Oklahoma City, a contractor providing general construction and environmental remediation services to a broad spectrum of clients. They specialize in assisting during times of disaster.

She and 16 of her employees from Oklahoma have been working morning, noon and night in the areas of New York hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. They helped set up polling places that allowed New Yorkers to vote on Election Day. They are assisting with the infrastructure of the Red Cross relief efforts. They haven’t had any days or even time off during their mission…until Tuesday night.

Fogg is a Thunder season ticket member. On Sunday someone told her the Thunder was playing in Brooklyn this week. As busy as they have been, she hadn’t read the newspaper but was thrilled with the idea of taking her crew to the Thunder game.  “It was very exciting to be able to find out they were in town, especially here in Brooklyn where we are working. It’s huge to be able to take the night off from what we’ve been doing out here. We haven’t slept, we haven’t eaten regularly. But we’re not going to miss a Thunder game.”

Jennifer was especially pleased to be able to treat her employees to a slice of home, the Thunder.

“I tell you they were so ecstatic. They are dog-tired, but they made it here. It meant a lot to them to have a little bit of home.  Sleep is for the weak,” she said.

Fogg calls the devastation in the area “phenomenal”, the work difficult but rewarding and said New Yorkers have been very appreciative and kind. For her staff, going to the game was a welcome respite from the hard work (more than 24 hours straight in many cases) and a chance to show their Oklahoma pride.

“Being here and being able to support the team, seeing the Thunder makes us appreciate Oklahoma so much,” said Baxter Smith from Tulsa.

“It means a heck of a lot. We are real happy to be out here and help out,” said Robert Hoefling of Tulsa. When they found out they would be able to go to Thunder game in Brooklyn, “We were all just jumping for joy. We are just real happy to be here.”

Alison Scott is data manager for ASSETT in Oklahoma City. She said it was great to offer the staff a “let down moment” from the work. “It’s amazing and so exciting…and the Thunder won!”

Joining the ASSETT group at the game was Zebedee Jones, a New Yorker who is working with them. He appreciates the support and was thrilled to join his new friends and coworkers at the game. He even wore a Thunder shirt. “I’m a New York Knicks fan but real recognizes real and these people are real, ASSETT is real and that’s what I’m about; real people. They came out to help people and that’s what it’s all about. ”

-Dan Mahoney