Canadian County train-themed Bed-and-Breakfast damaged by tornado

Oklahoman Debbie Morse survived the May 24 tornado. But her Red Rooster Guest Cabooses and Inn was demolished

 
BY ROBERT MEDLEY rmedley@opubco.com | Modified: June 5, 2011 at 8:21 am | Published: June 5, 2011    Comment on this article Leave a comment

The Prairie Chicken and the Red Rooster are lying on their sides.

The train cabooses were scooted across the ground and overturned by the May 24 tornado that swooped down on the Red Rooster Guest Cabooses and Inn in eastern Canadian County.

photo - Debbie Morris'  Red Rooster Guest Caboose and Inn sustained major damage from the May 24th tornado in Canadian County, Oklahoma , Thursday, June 2, 2011. Photo by Steve Gooch ORG XMIT: KOD
Debbie Morris' Red Rooster Guest Caboose and Inn sustained major damage from the May 24th tornado in Canadian County, Oklahoma , Thursday, June 2, 2011. Photo by Steve Gooch ORG XMIT: KOD

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Debbie Morse was sitting on the porch of her log cabin at 15830 Northwest Expressway and watching the eastern sky for the oncoming storm when the twister crept up from the west. Her electricity and satellite had been knocked out so she couldn't watch television weather reports.

But her cellphone worked, and her friend Glenda Galebach in Oklahoma City called about 4:40 p.m. to tell her the massive tornado that would eventually leave a deadly path from El Reno to Guthrie was zeroing in on her.

“I said, but I don't see it! And Glenda told me that was because it was right on top of me.”

Morse ran to her utility room and closed all the doors around her as the wind began to break out windows. The tornado tore off parts of the roof and one side of the cabin.

“I heard the biggest roar of my life,” Morse said. “The doors were shaking and I started praying so loud I couldn't hear the tornado any more. I could hear glass crashing everywhere.”

When the tornado finally passed over she heard someone shouting. It was R.D. Norton, who rented a room in the barn where Morse had her gift shop, The Cock A Doodle Gift Shop. He was not injured, but the building was destroyed.

No guests were scheduled to stay in the cabooses that night.

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