Family believes tornado tore up their farm near Harrah

HARRAH — Flying, spinning debris and extensive damage combined to convince the Nowakowski family that a tornado struck their farm near NE 36 and Luther Road on Tuesday evening.

Seven of the family's eight barns were damaged and all of its grain bins were destroyed when a storm rolled through about 7 p.m., said Josh Nowakowski, 34.

He estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the structures and various other farm equipment. And the family's sweet and field corn crops, which were expected to be harvested this weekend, are a total loss, Nowakowski said.

The home had minor damage.

Representatives of two insurance companies, Oklahoma Gas and Electric, police and sheriff's deputies were at the farm Tuesday evening.

Nowakowski said family members and workers were in a barn when they heard the wind pick up. They stepped outside and saw a sheet-metal roof flying across the sky and quickly stepped back in the barn.

Strong winds caused damage to homes, sheds, trees and power lines near Harrah, Oklahoma County sheriff's spokesman Mark Meyers said.

N Luther Road was closed between NE 63 and NE 36 while crews cleaned up debris.

Meyers said a roof was blown off a shed, the facades of houses were damaged and tree limbs and power lines were knocked down.

At 7:25 p.m., the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. reported about 14,000 of its customers in the Oklahoma City area were without power, mostly in eastern Oklahoma County. That number was down to about 4,300 about 9 p.m.