Buildings Damaged Across Green Country In Overnight Storms

Powerful winds ripped the roofs from a Green County fire station and nursing home Tuesday night.

The winds also exposed a popular Skiatook burger joint to the elements.

The open sign wasn't illuminated during the lunch rush at Ron's Hamburgers in Skiatook, Wednesday. That's because half of its roof was ripped off with the wind.

"I had no idea until it hit, so...I was pretty shocked," said owner Gary Baber.

After the roof was peeled away, rain poured in through the open roof, staining ceiling tiles and leaving puddles of water on the floor.

Baber said he expects to lose about $3,000 in sales each day the restaurant is closed, which is why he's pushing to re-open by the end of the week.

"If they can temporary patch the roof, maybe we'll be open Friday. If they can get something so the water can't get in, we can re-open," Baber said.

A little further north, the winds finished the job a fire started two weeks ago in Pawhuska, knocking over the north wall of a historic building.

7/11/2013 Related Story: 90-Year-Old Downtown Pawhuska Building Destroyed In Fire

The roof of the town's fire station was also peeled off.

Luckily, the station's garage was protected by concrete, so none of the fire engines or ambulances were harmed.

"We was able to get in and out of the station, no problem," said Pawhuska Fire Chief Gip Allen.

Allen said it was a busy night for emergency responders. Firefighters were called to help at the Pawhuska Nursing Home. Tarps are in place now, after gusty winds tore away the west end of the roof there.

7/24/2013 Related Story: Pawhuska Fire Station Damaged By Storms

The nursing home wouldn't comment, but the fire chief said water damaged parts of the facility, forcing his team to shut down power to some of the building.

The chief said the patients, who were staying in the damaged area, were moved to rooms on the other end of the building for the night.

"If they couldn't have kept them on that one side, we probably would have had to start transferring them to the hospital out here," Allen said.

He said many of the patients have been moved to a nursing home in a neighboring town.

Ron's Hamburgers in Skiatook never lost power, so the owner, at least, didn't have to throw any food out. The manager of the Ron's location in Owasso came by Wednesday to pick up all the meat, so it could be used fresh at her store.