Harrah community left shattered after EF-3 tornado rips through
HARRAH, Okla. (KFOR) — Neighbors across the metro are left in shock after several tornadoes made landfall across the Oklahoma City metro overnight.
The Harrah community was one of the areas hit hard by devastation after Sunday morning's powerful tornadoes.
The National Weather Service classified the storm as an EF-3.
"It's surreal. Like, I'm still not fully processing it," said Patrick Kelpine.
Kelpine lost his childhood home in the storm, and is reliving the moment he got the heartbreaking call.
"He was like, you didn't know? You know, your house got hit by the tornado," said Kelpine.
Kelpine tells News 4 he's in disbelief, having grown up in the home for more than 20 years.
"It's always been a safe haven," Kelpine said.
Another neighbor said her family made it out just in time after hearing loud booms early Sunday morning.
Juliana McLaughlin walked me through the moment she and her family heard the tornado hit the ground.
"We had no time to think, no time to second guess," said McLaughlin.
McLaughlin said the feeling of not knowing how bad the storm was, or the severity of the damage was gut wrenching.
"We were terrified. It was very clear that this was a real tornado. This wasn't just a warning, this was happening to us in real time," said McLaughlin.
Kelpine tells me he's grateful his family survived, but where they go from here, is a question he's still trying to answer.
"It's one of those things you see it on television, people sifting through what used to be their homes. And it's like, man, I don't know how that would be. And then it happens to you," Kelpine said.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office issued a curfew for the town of Harrah beginning at nightfall.
The Harrah Fire Department and Red Cross have announced they're accepting donations at Harrah Church for those affected by the storm damage. The address is 101 S Dobbs Rd.