Fallen Tree Briefly Traps Poteau Woman In Storm Shelter

Monday's storms scared many LeFlore County residents, especially one woman who was trapped in her storm cellar.

Jennifer Bandy told KFSM, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, a tree had fallen on her shelter's door.

“About 5:40 I noticed that it was really starting to storm and about then ‘till I noticed a wall cloud so I went into my shelter,” Jennifer Bandy said.

“I heard a roar and a lot of things hitting the cellar door and just a lot of commotion, and the air got real tight, and that was it."

After the storm, Bandy realized she couldn't open the door, so she texted her family to let them know she was trapped. They arrived to find a tree blocking the shelter. Thankfully she says it didn't take long for first responders to rescue her.

The storm also destroyed her mobile home.

5/25/2015 Related Story: Storms, Possible Tornado Cause Extensive Damage Near Poteau