Hospital’s roof ripped off during severe storms Tuesday
By Jonathan Greco
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SALLISAW, Oklahoma (KOCO) — An eastern Oklahoma hospital was badly damaged as severe storms moved through the state on Tuesday.
Around 5 p.m., the city of Sallisaw was hit by storms that brought down power lines and tree limbs across the area. The storm also ripped off the roof of the Northeastern Health System Sequoyah Hospital.
“Patients have all been either discharged or in the process of being transferred,” Sallisaw City Manager Brian Heverly told KOCO 5 sister station 40/29 on Tuesday. “Hospital administration already has disaster management and recovery teams coming in. But for right now, the ER is on divert status.”
The city manager added that no one was hurt in the storms.
Pafford Medical Services has set up a mobile field hospital to provide care for displaced patients and ensure continuity of health care services.
The historic log cabins in Sallisaw also saw damage during the storms. The Judge Franklin Faulkner House on East Cherokee Street had damage, and multiple crews, including from the Cherokee Nation, responded to help clean up.
Sallisaw officials said Wednesday that they are still receiving reports of power outages. Crews are working to restore power to all who were affected.
“We truly appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding, it has been a long evening, and we are committed to getting power back on as quickly and safely as possible,” Sallisaw officials said in a Facebook post.
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