Elbert County Tornado Slideshow
ELBERT, Colo. – At least two tornadoes cause significant damages to two isolated areas of Elbert County. West of the town of Elbert, a EF2 tornado danced around the property of Irene and Phil Brown, damaging practically everything except their home.
“It’s a big mess,” said Phil Brown. “Material things, nothing that can’t be replaced.”
You can see pictures of that tornado on the top of this article. Phil watched it form from his front porch, before heading for shelter.
“I was in the house when it came through, then it just touched down and I went into the basement,” said Phil. “People say it sounds like a freight train, it just sounds like wind.”
When he stepped back out, his barn was leveled, the old home he used to live, a little more than 30 feet away, was missing a portion of its roof and the cinderblock shed next to his new home was gone. Except for a broken window and some splattered mud, his home was untouched.
“It took the roof off the barn, then it quit and then it started back up here and then went back around that way,” said Irene motioning to the destroyed shed next to her home. “I’m just glad nobody was hurt and glad it didn’t get the house.”
No one was hurt, although the Brown’s were missing one goat. They also couldn’t find their dumpsters or miscellaneous objects that were outside their old home.
“I’m not sure where it (the tornado) put it all, but probably all over the county,” said Phil. “I don’t know what else I’m missing, but I guess I’ll find out.”
Southeast of where the Browns live, Matt Kinley and his uncle Roger Vercelline captured video of two tornadoes.
“It’s weird how those things act, isn’t it. Just flatten some buildings and others, they leave stuff alone,” said Vercelline. “I thought it was a lot worse, I didn’t think that it touched down until we went up to Dwight’s place and saw the hangar and it was demolished.”
The hangar he’s referring to was a small airplane hangar just off Elbert Road about 5 miles north of Highway 24. Only one wall of the hangar was left standing. Inside, the plane had only one wing.
Debris from the hangar was thrown around the field for about an eighth of a mile. Fence posts were like wood spikes, thrown into the ground like javelins.
No injuries were reported from either damage location.
The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement. Get under a workbench or other piece of sturdy furniture. If no basement is available, seek shelter on the lowest floor of the building in an interior hallway or room such as a closet. Use blankets or pillows to cover your body and always stay away from windows.
If in mobile homes or vehicles, evacuate them and get inside a substantial shelter. If no safe shelter is available, lie flat in the nearest ditch or other low spot and cover your head with your hands.
