SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E
VOLUME 34 32
C I T Y
TUESDAY JUNE 15,24, 2021 TUESDAY , N,OVEMBER 2020
50cI
SSUE 48 25 ISSUE
New COVID-19 restrictions willhomes, prohibit indoor personalingatherings Tornado wipes out two causesdining, $500,000 damage BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Weld County officials said the June 7 tornado that started in Firestone caused about $500,000 to businesses and property during its trek through parts of southwest Weld County. Two homes were destroyed, amounting to $429,000 in damage. Three other homes sustained damage to at least 50 percent of the structure, according to county officials. The cost of the damage to those homes is a bit more than $100,000. The tornado also hit two businesses, a feedlot and a dairy. Weld County officials said a fire sparked from a downed power line destroyed one building at the feedlot while another building loss was the direct result of the tornado. Damage to the dairy was limited to the roof, outbuildings and livestock. County officials said the tornado traveled about six miles and was on the ground for about a half-hour. The tornado also blew over some power lines and dislodged at least one piece of plywood that sailed into a tree. No people were injured, but two cattle at the local dairy farm died. The large tornado dropped down A roof carried by the tornado barely missed a vehicle on June 7 at the house across from the dairy at 9078 County Road 26. near Weld County roads 19 and 28 PHOTO BY BELEN WARD shortly after 5 p.m. A family driving home from the class 4A regional “We were just sitting in the livgolf tournament in Greeley had ing room. We came out, and it was to turn around on U.S. Highway 85 literally right here,” McKinney and wait out the storm in a place of said from in front of his property safety. on WCR 28. “We watched it come county is required to follow based on the By Ellis Arnold through. rapid It didn’t sound like wasline in the house,” saidthe resident A “I long of cars outside city of Brighton’s testing site at a severity of a county’s local virus spread. Colorado Community Media tornado. It looked more like a dirt Mark McKinney. “A buddy I work Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent The dial grew out of the state’s safer-atdevil. But then it intensified, and with lives up the road. He called me weeks due to high 14-day test positivity rate it As Denver metro counties continue to home order — the policy that came after then there was thunder lightning. and said there was ademand. tornado Adams over County’s inch closer to local stay-at-home orders the statewide stay-at-home order this must have lasted 25 minutes.” the the house. It just getwastop 15.9ofpercent, as of Nov.kept 17, according to Tri-County Health Department. “It was terrifying,” Karyn ting bigger and bigger andCity’s bigger.” under Colorado’s system of coronavirusspring and allowed numerous types of Brighton and Commerce test positivity rates were bothsaid higher than Weiner, whose home was in the path related restrictions, the state announced The storm continued northeast, businesses to reopen. 13 percent. Forty-five people in Brighton and 29 in Commerce City have of the tornado when it started. “I damaging the Cottonwood Dairy a new level of rules that prohibits indoor The state recently switched to color died from relatedtoward health issues. Toatlimit the spread COVID-19, was my kids’ schoolof over in Fredon WCR 26COVID-19 and continuing dining and personal gatherings — a identifiers — levels blue, yellow and erick, picking them up and bringing Platteville. A stormmoved chaser to said two restrictions at least 15 counties tighter that prohibits indoor and change that applies to the majority of the orange rather than numbered levels — to them home. I was backing out, saw cows died. personal gatherings. the tornado out my back window. “Once it left here, it stayed on the Denver metro area and many counties in avoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red Then I hopped out and took a video.” other regions. ground for probably 20 minutes,” meant a stay-at-home order. Now, level Her house survived, but her outMcKinney said. The state’s COVID-19 dial, which has red — “severe risk” — is the secondbuildings Photo did not. by Belen Ward There was no damage to McKinbeen in effect since September, is the set “We lost a lot of trees,” she said. ney’s home. Down the street, the This tornado that touched down in Firestone was visible from parts of northern Adams of different of restrictions thatIteach tornado impaled a large piece of County and levels from the Prairie Center. hit an area near Weld County roads 18 and 29 Please see RESTRICTIONS, Page 2 plywood into a tree. SEE TORNADO, P4 PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH shortly before 5:30 June 7.
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