A longtime business in McDonough is working to assess the cost of a new roof following recent storms in the area.
F&F Floor Covering and Carpet, 45 Griffin Street in McDonough, sustained damage when strong winds blew the building’s metal roof off on January 12.

The storm hit downtown McDonough shortly before 5 p.m.

Stacy Cronan is the daughter of owner Calvin Ford. She said the store closed early as soon as they knew a storm was coming.

“We had just left,” said Cronan. “We had watched the radar and it was heading this way, so we were trying to close early so we could get home. We left about 10 or 15 minutes before it hit.”

The storm blew the metal roof off the building at F&F. Within minutes, said Cronan, their phones were “ringing off the hook” to notify them of the storm damage.

“Everybody was calling and telling us what happened,” she said. “We made it back up here within 30 to 45 minutes. We were just in shock. We couldn’t believe it. We were just thankful that nobody got hurt.

“The original roof under it was still intact,” continued Cronan. “There was a lot of water inside from water leaking.”

F&F has been in business since 1964, and at its current location since 1987. Cronan said the company had completed a year-long remodel of its facility only a week prior to the storm.

She said the family-owned company is “still in the mitigation process,” assessing the damage and determining the cost of repairs to the building.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had any kind of insurance situation or damage,” she said. “None of our inventory or things we have ordered was damaged because it’s in a different building.”

Cronan said F&F will remain open while repairs are ongoing.

“We have a responsibility to our customers,” she said. “We have a makeshift office here so we can conduct business.”

Cronan said is grateful for fellow businesses in McDonough, as well as Mayor Sandra Vincent, for their support in the wake of the storm.