High Winds Damage Roof of VFW Hall in New Mexico

A 47-mph wind gust peeled back part of the metal roof on a VFW hall in Carlsbad, N.M.

About 120 people were playing bingo inside the hall at the time of Thursday night’s storm and all escaped unharmed, although many were shaken by the experience.

Cris Sing is the kitchen manager of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8703 and wife of the post commander.

She told the Carlsbad Current-Argus that says “people started yelling and screaming like crazy. Then the electricity went out and everything went black. We couldn’t step because the wind was so strong and the dirt was so thick we couldn’t see outside.”

Sing says the thick, swirling dirt subsided after a few minutes and everyone then left the hall.

Damages were still being calculated Friday.