The typical workday flow was interrupted on Tuesday morning at Cooper’s Taxidermy in Pace, when occupants inside the building claimed a tornado struck the business around 10 a.m.
Click here: To view a photo gallery from damage surrounding the Pace business
Three employees were inside the building and one 19-month old child, when the incident occurred. Chad Cooper, who manages the business, said he did not know it was a tornado when the commotion began.
“At the time, I thought it was a hailstorm with everything that was hitting the building,” Chad said. “Obviously, it wasn’t a big tornado to level (our) building, but it was definitely a tornado.”
“It was scary,” he said.
During the incident, no one inside the business was harmed which included his wife Beth, youngest daughter Blakely and fellow employee Bill Johnson.
Tuesday’s tornado encounter was not a first for Johnson, who watched from a window as the twister approach the business. Johnson was working in the shop portion of the business.
“I looked out and saw it coming across the field and I hollered and told everyone to hit the deck,” Johnson said. “It got rough real quick, but it was bad enough to scare you.”
While yelling for everyone to take cover, Johnson himself took cover on the ground away from the window. While Beth, who was inside the bathroom with Blakely, took cover with her daughter. Chad quickly joined his wife and youngest daughter inside the bathroom.
Like Johnson, Beth said this was her second encounter with a tornado, Beth said she identified it as a tornado since it sounded like train coming through. Beth said she was “praying” as the tornado made its way through the area. She was fortunate to be inside the building with her daughter at the time.
“I could have been outside, like I normally am…one of those limbs could have whacked me right upside the head,” she said. “God was watching out for me in making sure I wasn’t out there at the time.”
Following the incident, Beth said she was still tense from the tornado encounter. She said this incident will make her and the others more aware when harsh weather occurs near their immediate surroundings.
“It has made us more aware of the thunderstorms,” she said.
The business suffered minor damages in this incident, including some roof damage, ruined porch furniture, a heavily damaged tree, a dented storage building, along with storm debris surrounding the business.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace business claims tornado caused minor damage (PHOTOS)