Residents in Sandusky, Ohio, were forced to take shelter as a ferocious storm descended on their town, ultimately demolishing the historic Sandusky State Theater before their very eyes.
The theater, which had stood since 1928, was no match for the storm that struck the town on Wednesday, ripping away entire walls and sections of the roof, and raining bricks and debris on the sidewalk and streets below, as seen in stunning eyewitness video.
Unconfirmed tornado just above me. I missed that building collapsing directly on my truck as I was driving by. Missed it by 15 seconds
Publiée par Doug Flinner sur Mercredi 10 juin 2020
Publiée par Susan Porterfield Prentice sur Mercredi 10 juin 2020
“Pieces of the roof kind of pulled back, so it was pretty wild and pretty terrifying,” said Kate Botti, who lives downtown in Sandusky.
Publiée par Susan Porterfield Prentice sur Mercredi 10 juin 2020
Here’s the moment a severe thunderstorm takes out the Sandusky State Theatre. #ohwx pic.twitter.com/fRwRiaN3YI
— Chad (@ChadBlue_) June 11, 2020
Miraculously, no injuries were reported, but residents have been advised by police to avoid the area, as the building is unstable, having been torn asunder by the violent thunderstorm.
We are asking all residents to please don’t come in the downtown area. Bystanders are hindering police and fire…
Publiée par City of Sandusky Police Department sur Mercredi 10 juin 2020
“Everybody’s had a tough year,” Theater Director Chris Parthemore said. “But Sandusky’s a tough town, and we’ll get through it.”
“I just turned around and there was a brown funnel of bricks as the roof was coming off that thing, so I didn’t sit and stare too long,” said eyewitness Steve Prentice.
The 92-year-old landmark once hosted a performance by former child star, actress, singer, and US diplomat Shirley Temple.