Stockton: Aged care residents evacuated as ‘insane’ storm blows roof off … again

A ‘crazy’ storm forced about 30 residents at an aged care home in Stockton to evacuate, the roof torn to shreds for the second time in 15 months.

About 30 residents were evacuated from Wescott Presbyterian Aged Care after a storm tore through on Monday night. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

A Stockton resident described a storm that ripped through the beachside suburb on Monday night as ‘crazy’.

Lisa-Marie Folpp was sitting on the verandah of the Boatrowers Hotel with her partner who owns the local pub, when lightning appeared to come out of nowhere at around 8pm.

Before her eyes, the roof from the Westcott Presbyterian Aged Care home across the road ripped off, leaving debris everywhere.

“It just come in like a hurricane,” she told The Newcastle News.

Lisa-Marie Folpp was on the verandah of the Boatrowers Hotel in Stockton when 'crazy' weather ripped the roof off the Westcott Presbyterian Aged Care home across the road. Picture: Amy Ziniak

For the second time in 14 months, the Presbyterian Aged Care Facility at Stockton, Newcastle, was ripped apart by a savage super storm. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

“It was crazy, I had sunglasses on my head and they flew off, I don’t know where there are.

“It was insane, it just came out of nowhere.”

But it hasn’t been the only time she’s witnessed the same roof being torn to shreds.

It was the second time in 15 months the Stockton aged care home was ripped apart by a savage storm.

About 300 square metres of roofing was damaged during a storm in August last year. Residents had to be evacuated, fortunately no one was injured.

This time, around 30 residents were forced to evacuate as Fire and Rescue NSW were called in to assist.

The damage was confined to the Ibis Wing. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Presbyterian Aged Care CEO Paul Sadler said no residents or staff were injured.

“The roof over the Ibis Wing dining room has been partially blown off and caused damage to other Ibis Wing roof areas,” Mr Sadler said.

“Other parts of the facility are operating as normal as the damage is contained to this wing.”

Mr Sadler said 23 of the evacuated residents were being cared for at nearby HammondCare Waratah.

“We anticipate being able to look after all other residents on-site,” he said.

Many of the evacuated residents are being cared for in another home. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

“We are following our emergency plan as we respond to the situation.”

Fire and Rescue Stockton were assisted at the scene by crews from Carrington.

“Just after 8pm last night our crew was responded to the severe weather event that occurred including winds speeds up to 146km/hour,” a Fire and Rescue spokesman said.

“Crews assisted in providing temporary bedding for the displaced residents.”

The roof was stripped during a storm in August 2019. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Last year’s storm damaged happened under very similar circumstances. Picture: Peter Lorimer.