Fast-thinking Lowe's Employees save 100 customers when tornado hit store

[RamboLiberal]

It was like nothing they had ever seen — a shimmering wall of debris and danger bearing down like a freight train on the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Sanford, N.C. It was one of more than 60 tornadoes that raked the state Saturday, leaving a trail of death and destruction.

With only seconds to react, store employees herded about 100 customers to the most secure corner of the vulnerable steel-frame building. And when the storm had passed, a few had minor injuries, but all had survived, huddled in the only part of the building left standing.

“When we hit the safe area, got down on the floor, we had about five seconds,” survivor Gary Hendricks told TODAY’s Natalie Morales Monday. “Their quick response saved everyone.”

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Though the employees had been trained to deal with disasters, nothing had prepared them for peril on this scale. “We were just reacting off instinct,” Gibson told Morales. “We had roughly 90 seconds to two minutes to ... react and try to get everyone to the safest part of the building, the rear of the building.”

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42641857/ns/today-today_people/

On edit pic of store:

Jim R. Bounds/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scene outside the devastated store.


Kudos to those Lowe's employees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FSogol]

1. Well done. n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. +1

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. I hope they are recognized for their actions by the store and the community

As Chesley Sullenberger proved, calm competence and keeping a level head in the worst possible situation can be the most purely heroic action a person can perform.

These Lowe's employees saved many lives, and they deserve to be celebrated - even though I'm sure they will all insist that they were just doing their jobs.

[Keith Bee]

6. No, they'll be fired.....

...for not protecting the merchandise.

[jeff47]

8. Nah, this is Lowes, not Home Depot.

If it was Home Depot, they'd be fired and arrested for theft.

[nc4bo]

15. The President called the manager and heaped tons of praise on him and other employees

they will not lose their jobs but will be transferred to other stores until the Sanford store gets rebuilt.

They are heroes and the community knows it!!!

[P. Galore]

20. Well done, Mr. President. Invite them to the White House for 4th of July or something. nt

[littlewolf]

3. it was awesome .....

[Jane Austin]

5. Any idea why the back of the store

was safer?

Thanks.

[Thegonagle]

7. No windows, and there were probably stock rooms, mechanical rooms,

break rooms, offices, and such, i.e., interior walls holding up the roof, and offering some protection from flying debris. The store may also have been built with a "severe weather shelter area" in mind, and that was the designated area. Signs designating such areas are common in stores and malls in the midwest, and probably other areas.

[Jane Austin]

14. Thanks,

I hadn't thought that there would be a safe place built in, but that makes sense.

[csziggy]

12. In the local Lowe's the rest rooms and break rooms are almost free standing

With concrete block walls enclosing small areas compared to the large open area of the merchandise area. So even if the entire roof came off, the exposure to the winds would be much less with less chance of the roof beams falling on people. Same idea that in most homes, the safest places are bathrooms or closets.

[Odin2005]

9. Heroes!!!

[Gman]

10. Great story but

the company will only use it for PR and still pay these people crap. They'll fire 'em if they try to organize a union despite this.

[glowing]

11. 2 days earlier my sis n law and the family were web camping me from the parking lot there

It's crazy how fast a storm can destroy so fast.

[lonestarnot]

13. Fantastic! I knew I loved Lowe's.

[we can do it]

17. Me Too.

[phylny]

16. Many years ago in Plainfield, Illinois,

teachers had been told by the engineers who built the high school that there was a particular hallway that should be used in the case of a tornado. One afternoon, a storm approached and the teachers and coaches brought all the after-school athletes from the fields and gym to that hallway. It was the only thing left standing after the tornado hit.

That story continues to give me goosebumps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_Plainfield_tornado

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

18. Lived in Sanford, NC, for many years... hate that place

but good job for the Lowe's employees

[P. Galore]

19. They showed great poise. I hope they all get a Big Bonus or paid-for holiday. nt

[jwirr]

21. Reacting from instinct - those are some very good instincts because

most in an emergency act from self-preservation. Good people.

[TygrBright]

22. ah, yes, more lazy workers slacking around living off the brilliant initiative of the Owner Class

Hope the :sarcasm: tag isn't necessary but alas, it too often is...

wearily,
Bright

[aggiesal]

23. Home Depot gives ...

to Republicans,

Lowes gives to Democratic candidates.

Always better to go to Lowes if possible.

I congratulate these fast thinking Lowes workers.

[keith the dem]

24. That doesn't suprise me,

I have relatives that work or worked for Lowes, and they were treated very well, friends that worked for Home Depot were treated like scum. I often notice that Lowes employees have a far better attitude. How you treat your employees matters, from the help they give when you can't find a bolt..all the way up to when a tornado hits!

[Major Hogwash]

25. Wow, some good news for a change!! I hope they get bonuses!

Because saving lives is not what the Bush admin was about!!