Pawnee Man Injured Protecting Child In Earthquake

Pawnee County Sheriff Mike Waters says a man in his 40s has been released from the hospital after being treated for a head injury. 

Sheriff Waters says the man was protecting his child in the record-tying earthquake in Pawnee. Bricks from a chimney fell on his head as he sheltered a child, Waters said.

The family lives on Highway 15 just outside town.

Waters confirmed the man was released from the hospital after receiving treatment, getting several staples in his head.

Downtown Pawnee sustained damage, especially White's Foodliner grocery store. Pawnee Mayor Brad Sewell called the event “unprecedented.”

Sewell said the fire department and emergency management system was out looking for damage. The worst is to the historic downtown square.

An old sandstone building lot had some outer wall break off and fall on the sidewalk.

There was also a fire in a barn near town that was electric in origin, Sewell said. They aren't positive if it was related to the earthquake.