Associates from Lowe’s in Shawnee come together after tornado barrels through their store

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Newsroom Contributor
Apr 24, 2023

The Shawnee Lowe’s had just closed Wednesday night when the sirens started blaring and the nine associates inside the Oklahoma store tried to figure out how best to take cover. The store’s Manager, OJ Price, was at home watching the live news coverage of the tornado’s path and was on the phone with his night manager. “I saw it pop up on the radar and it looked like it was going to be a direct hit and then I got a text from a highway patrolman I know, and he said it’s going to cross right through the store,” Price remembers. 

He knew from experience what to do. 

“I was in a store in 1999 when a tornado came through, so I told them to grab tarps off shelves to cover themselves from the flying debris, then to grab hands and form a chain and get into the hall.” 

Sure enough, the tornado blew through the store, ripping off entire sections of the roof, blowing out windows, and destroying the canopy over the lumber yard. 

Price lives 20 miles away and couldn’t reach anyone for an agonizing ten minutes. 

“When I got them back on the phone I kept asking over and over, nine including yourself? You’re all there? All ok? I kept saying, nine including yourself?”  

Incredibly, everyone made it through without even a scratch and immediately went to work assessing the damage. 

Price arrived to find the power was out, but the sprinklers were on and part of the store flooded. Several air conditioning units and part of the roof had been tossed around and landed on nearby Interstate 40. The associates also smelled gas, so Price ushered them out of the store for the night. 

“I got there and ran and hugged each one of them. I was grabbing their arms, checking for cuts.” 

Workers from several neighboring towns started arriving to help with cleanup and community support. 

The store managed to re-open for customers Friday, just 36 hours after the devastating tornado. There are makeshift registers for check-out and only certain aisles are passable, but they were quickly able to sell chainsaws, lumber and other things that are vital to recovery efforts.  

Angela Ruiz is the area HR Business Partner and says about 30 people who work at the store also suffered significant damage to their homes and cars and Lowe’s is providing emergency financial support. 

Ruiz says, “We have some associates who are honestly still in shock, but the Shawnee team has come together quickly. A lot of the associates came to work the last few days to support the community. They want to help with cleanup and customers. They’ve done an awesome job and we’ve had help from all of the surrounding stores- teams traveling, groups of associates coming in from other cities.” 

She says it’s tough times like this that bring out the best in Lowe’s team members. 

“It’s pretty phenomenal.  Any sort of devastating natural disaster can be so overwhelming but that’s what we’re known for. In Oklahoma unfortunately we’re familiar with tornadoes so we know the response we need and we’re there for each other and for the community.” 

The town of Shawnee set up three command centers where people can pick up emergency supplies and Lowe’s donated hundreds of buckets, each filled with things like cleaning supplies, bug spray, water, masks, hand sanitizer and more. 

Kevin Kelso is the Senior Asset Protection Manager and says they’re doing everything they can to get as many emergency supplies as they can into the area and into the hands of the people of Shawnee. 

“Oh my gosh, it’s amazing to know we’re still able to support this community with their needs to rebuild. We’re so glad we’re able to support them and get open as quickly as possible so that we can help,” Kelso said. 

Price says he is so grateful for all that the company has done to support his staff and his community. 

“We’ve been through several tornadoes that have passed by us or around us and we’re always the first in the community with chainsaws and now we’re the ones that need help. Lowe’s being the company Lowe’s is, they’re just pouring in disaster relief products. In this case, you’re the one with your face buried in the mud trying to get out so that you can be in a position to help and we’re just so grateful to have the help we need.”  

Lowe's is working closely with the state and local officials/fire marshal to ensure that customer and associate safety is the top priority.