High winds wreck roofs, topple steeple in Chickasha
CHICKASHA — A church steeple was toppled and several buildings, utility poles and power lines sustained storm damage Tuesday in Grady County.
About noon Tuesday, straight-line winds in a thunderstorm blew off about half of a roof on a convenience store at 5550 E State Highway 19 and a roofing business on 16th Street in Chickasha sustained damage, said Amanda Wilkerson, deputy director of Grady County Emergency Management Agency.
Southern Hills Baptist Church, 2501 W Country Club Road, had roof and building damage, Wilkerson said.
The Rev. Kent Hibbard said he plans to use the steeple that was found lying on the ground in a flower garden instead of replacing it atop the church.
He said donations had been made to make future renovations to the building before the storm. Taking the steeple down wasn’t originally part of those plans, he said.
“The Lord did the demolition for us,” Hibbard said.
Hibbard said a passerby was near the parking lot Tuesday and saw the wind blow the steeple down. The woman, who did not give her name, called Hibbard’s cellphone moments after it happened.
“The Lord is gracious to us; no one was injured,” he said.
He said the repairs to the building will be covered by insurance.
Also in Grady County, there were five main electric transmission lines on Country Club Road destroyed near Sooner Road, she said.
There was also some damage to buildings, power lines and utility poles in the Ninnekah area. In Alex, strong winds blew down several large trees down about 15 miles east of Chickasha. There were no reports of injuries, Wilkerson said.