Two people remain hospitalized after severe weekend storms

Tuesday, June 7th 2005, 6:15 am

By: News On 6

PONCA CITY, Okla. (AP) A husband and wife remained in stable condition at a hospital in Ponca City Monday after they were injured in a tornado that demolished their house over the weekend.

Carl and Danita Porter were keeping their three grandchildren Saturday evening when the twister ripped through their home in McCord, just east of Ponca City, causing it to collapse around them.

The family had minimal time to react, Danita Porter said by telephone from her room at Via Christi Oklahoma Regional Medical Center. They weren't watching TV for warnings and didn't hear any noises, Danita Porter, 50, said.

``It pretty much dropped out of the sky,'' Danita Porter said. ``There's no way we could have been warned.''

Carl Porter, 55, who sustained cuts and bruises, is now able to walk around the hospital room he shares with his wife. Danita Porter said her body is still sore and she isn't able to walk as well as she once did.

Two of the grandchildren, Taylor, 4, and Tristan, 9, were treated for cuts and bruises and released from the hospital Saturday night. Tristan had to get several stitches in his chin, Danita Porter said.

The other grandchild, Danielle, 5, had a broken arm and was released on Monday.

``It's a miracle they survived,'' said Mike Patterson, Osage County Emergency Management Director.

Patterson said when he arrived on the scene the family was being pulled out of the debris.