Area Rocked By Storm

A heavy storm cut a wide path through Sapulpa Saturday morning, shutting down businesses and, in one case, trapping a truck driver in the cab of his semi.

The News On 6's Dan Bewley reports it's amazing there have been no reports of any serious injuries.

EMSA says the four people it transported Saturday morning are all in fair condition. Still, Mother Nature has once again turned lives upside-down.

"Oh God, it scared the, it scare me and then some," said Janey Harp.

Harp and her husband were in their motel room when heavens began to roar.

"I was holding the door shut and it was bouncing me off the off the door. And he got up to help keep it closed and about that time the ceiling fell right on the bed," said Harp.

The 70-plus mile an hour winds tore through America's Value Inn, just one stop on its turnpike of destruction.

At Towne West Shopping Center the roof of the Cheapo Depo lay in ruins across the parking lot. Utility poles ripped from the ground with the power lines covering the length of the shopping center. The cable even draped across the cab of a semi, trapping the driver inside. He eventually escaped unharmed.

At Sullivan's Custom Cabinetry a brick wall was snapped into pieces and thousands of dollars in hand-made woodwork was flooded and torn into scrap.

The storm was so powerful it peeled the roof off of the building, much like a banana peel.

"I have insurance, that's a good thing. We're going to rebuild it and be back to business soon," said Bob Sullivan.

Many residents at America's Value Inn make it as their permanent home. Several were angry with management immediately after the storm, because they wouldn't let anyone in to help. The property manager refused to tell his last name, but says that decision was done out of safety.          

"There ain't nobody here that can help them. The fire department's been here, got it blocked off, we've got five people helping as much as possible, we don't need strangers in here in our way," said Vernon.

Management eventually let more help, including the Red Cross, access to the property. Residents are picking up their lives and glad it's over.

"It was bad, nasty," said Harp.

PSO says power should be restored on Sunday.