LOUISA, Ky., July 5 (UPI) -- A possible tornado damaged a Walmart and several cars but no injuries were reported in Louisa, about 140 miles east of Lexington, Ky.
Store manager Marty Bishop told WSAZ that most damage was to the building's left rear side after the storm hit around 3:30 p.m. Monday. The wind overturned some vehicles and tossed bags of mulch around the home and garden area of the store off U.S. 23.
"This is a time to be thankful for that -- that we didn't lose life," Louisa Mayor Harold Slone told the news outlet. "Walmart employees were all in there, and it looked like quite a few customers were in there -- so we're very fortunate."
Other property damage was reported in the city.
Brandon Lincoln, who manages the TNT Fireworks tent in the parking lot of the Walmart, told WKYT he watched as rain and strong winds came through.
"It looked like a funnel. It literally looked like a funnel in that sky there. It was coming over that mountain. It was filled. I mean you could see it coming down," Lincoln said.
Structural engineers were expected to check the building as the store remains closed.
The National Weather Service has not confirmed whether the damaged was caused by a tornado.
