Dick’s Sporting Goods and Old Navy at Hamburg close after wind tears roof

The Dick’s Sporting Goods and Old Navy stores at Hamburg had to be evacuated Saturday afternoon because roofing materials came loose and ruptured a gas line.

Lexington Fire Department Major C.J. Haunz said wind tore a large sheet of rubber roofing, breaking the gas line.

He said the stores were evacuated at about 4 p.m. and would be closed at least through the rest of the day Saturday. After an examination of nearby roofs, Rack Room Shoes was closed as well.

Haunz said Columbia Gas officials were on the scene, and a roofing contractor was trying to determine how the roof could be repaired, but the wind was not expected to let up until late Saturday. A large black sheet of roofing material stretching from Dick’s to Old Navy could be seen billowing in the wind.

Lexington and surrounding areas were under a high wind warning until 8 p.m. Saturday, and a high wind advisory was in effect until 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Sustained winds of 30 to 45 miles per hour with gusts of up to 55 miles an hour were expected, and emergency crews responded to reports of downed limbs around town.

The winds were expected to usher in lower temperatures, with lows dropping to the upper 20s by Sunday morning. The weather service issued a freeze warning for 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday.

Sunday should be sunny with a high of 56 degrees.

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Dick’s Sporting Goods and Old Navy at Hamburg close after wind tears roof."