Tornado Damage Reported In Pawnee

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

PAWNEE, OK -- The National Weather Service says a tornado destroyed several structures in Pawnee.

"We had what's kind of a patio up there," said Candy Yunt.

Candy Yunt and her family were fast asleep when the storm rolled through early Tuesday morning.  No one was hurt, but when they stepped outside, they found plenty to clean up.

"We looked outside and saw that we had a lot of damage out here," said Candy Yunt.

The Yunts run a nursery, the Living Springs Garden Center.  Both of their green houses were destroyed, but many of the plants survived.  The family spent much of the day cleaning up, as well as figuring out how best to remove a lodged limb.

The Yunts were awakened about 1:30 on Tuesday morning when flying debris from the storm starting hitting their house.  One limb almost made its way inside the home.

"We're thankful we're safe, but we can always fix up and clean up," said Candy Yunt.

Their neighbors' property also endured some damage.  The apparent tornado took out a barn and some chicken coops across the street.

"I looked out and things was going so fast past that front door I slammed it real quick and hollered at my husband get up there's a tornado out there," said Mary Alley.

Mary Alley says the storm was gone just as quickly.  And, while she's glad the damage wasn't worse, she admits it's not something she wants to go through again.

"You know, I don't think I had time to get scared.  I didn't think about it, I really didn't," said Mary Alley.

The National Weather Service says its plans to survey the damage in Pawnee first-hand on Wednesday.