Tinker Federal Credit Union Employee Relives Moore Tornado

Crews have been working to rebuild the Tinker Federal Credit Union branch located near S.E. 4th and I-35 Service Rd. that was wiped out by the May 20th tornado.

The exterior of the building is near completion, serving as a symbol of the rebuilding process that can be seen from the highway.

On the day the EF-5 tornado barreled toward the credit union location, branch manager Jan Davis ordered her team into the vault along with the customers that were doing their banking. In all, two dozen people squeezed into the vault and shut the door. Davis said the branches have emergency protocol in place and she says it was the execution of that plan that saved their lives.

"We were physically holding the door shut and yes we did initially feel the pull on the door," recalled Davis. "It lasted forever."

Davis said she knew the building was being destroyed as they huddled inside the vault because of the noises they could hear. Then it went quiet.

"We got it open a little bit and of course we saw daylight," Davis said.

Davis had a gut feeling the building was gone.

"There was a car lodged in that office, and there was a car lodges over here," said Davis. "There was debris on top of them and of course, we looked and there were bowling balls scattered about, and you obviously knew, you could see the spots where things hit."

The new building has been going up quickly and TFCU officials hope to have the branch back open in early 2014.

Jan Davis and her team have begun healing after the devastating storm and she said they were all looking forward to getting back to work and serving their Moore members.