Significant damage was reported Friday morning in a severe thunderstorm that hit the Oklahoma town of Rush Springs. Parts of Norman and surrounding areas also had wind damage and heavy hail.

Downed powerlines and debris in the roadway forced the closure of U.S. Highway 81 in Rush Springs. Southbound traffic was diverted to U.S. 81 and state Highway 17. Northbound traffic was diverted to U.S. 81B into downtown Rush Springs.

Storm Damage Reported In Norman
A tractor-trailer fell on its side at Interstate 35 and Highway 77 and Norman near Johnson Controls. The driver was taken to a local hospital, but is expected to be OK.

Tree uprooted near Rush Springs, OK

There were numerous reports of powerlines down in Norman, including at East 24th Street and Indian Hills Road and near Community Christian School. According to the Department of Emergency Management, wind gusts of 67 miles per hour were recorded in Southwestern Oklahoma.

A fire department official in Norman reported wind damage at Porter Avenue and Alameda Street.  Damage was also reported at 24th and Alameda streets, where a bank sign was blown down.

During the early part of the morning, there were about 3,500 Oklahoma Gas and Electric customers in Norman without power, likely the result of powerlines falling into trees. Later in the morning, a transformer problem resulted in 5,000 customers without power.

A National Weather Service representative reported wind damage in southwest Norman, where a barn was destroyed. That damage was reported a half mile south of Highway 9 on Western Avenue.

Ballpark damage in Norman, OK.

Royal Field at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College sustained some damage in Friday’s storms. More lights at a baseball field near I-35 near U.S. 77 in Norman were blown over in the morning storms. The light at Royal Field fell on a powerline and blocked a portion of the road.

The road has since reopened.

A man who works at the field said a set of bleachers also sustained damage.

If you had any wind or hail damage, call the experienced professionals at Millennium Roofing and Construction at 405-801-3643 for a free roof inspection. The Field Representatives at Millennium are experts in working with Insurance Adjusters to get your roof replaced if you have suffered any damage.

Roofing vs. Reroofing

If you come to find out that your roof has been damaged and needs to be fixed then there are two main approaches you can take. You can either decide to make a roof repair or replace the entire roof. Roof repairs will generally save you time and money, but in most cases a new roof is the best option. As a general rule of thumb, if the existing roof on is only one layer and there are no problems with the roof deck, a new roof is not necessary.

Roof repairs require less labor, material and necessary disposal compared to installing a new roof. This cuts down on money and time. However, if you are going to make a repair it is still important to consider the ventilation of your attic.

Most expert roofers will agree that re-roofing will not last as long as a new roof. When re-roofing, the life span of the roofing singles is approximately 25% less than if you were to go with a new roof. Furthermore, if your home has any of the following, you should consider a new roof:

• Existing roofing has bad decking
• Existing roofing is in very poor condition
• Existing roofing has too many layers
• Existing roofing has bad incompatible shingles

If you are still unsure which route to take, an experienced contractor like Millennium Roofing and Construction offers Free Roofing Price Quotes and they will be able to guide you through your decision making. They can inform you on your options and let you know whether you need a new roof, or if it’s better for you to repair your existing one.