Harrah neighborhood hit by EF-3 tornado
HARRAH, Okla. (KFOR) — An EF-3 tornado ripped through parts of Harrah overnight bringing major damage to several homes. It also caused power lines at Northeast 23rd Street and Luther Road to intertwine, almost like a spiderweb.
Neighbors near Peebly Road and Reno Avenue are now having to pick up the pieces after the tornado hit their area early Sunday morning.
"Never think it would happen to me, but it did," said Joe Payne, a homeowner.
Payne lived in his home for about 14 years and got a devastating wake up call Sunday morning.
"We were all in bed. And when I heard the noise, when the thing hit, I thought it was just a direct hit by lightning. It was a loud pop, but it was the roof coming off the house," said Payne.
Payne's son rode out the storm in the trailer in the backyard.
The family said the trailer rolled and landed against a tree, but his son is safe.
Payne's grandkids stepped in to help early Sunday morning to salvage what they can.
"We all hopped in our cars and sped over here as fast as we could and kind of help look for everything we could, try to get everything we could, trying to make sure they're all right," said Tyler Payne, Joe Payne's grandson.
The family is just thankful to be safe and said things can be replaced.
"We're raising... a great-granddaughter. And she was in the house with us. She could've been hurt , but she wasn't... so… very thankful," said Payne.
Although they still felt lost without their missing puppy.
Until a few hours later, when he finally appeared and the family screamed with joy.
The Payne house wasn't the only one sustaining damage in the neighborhood.
Multiple houses in the neighborhood were destroyed.
The storm and tornado is something Payne said he'll never forget.
"What a night....a night to remember," said Payne.