Tornados - 5/22/08

SUBJECT: Priority High – Weld County Tornados 2008

  1. Report Date/Time: May 22, 2008 at 12:00 p.m.

  2. Location: Weld County, Windsor

  3. Event Start Date/Time: approx. May 22, 2008 – at approximately 11:45 am in Weld County, State Duty Officer notified at 12:00 pm May 22.

  4. Agencies involved:

    Weld County
    City of Greeley
    Town of Windsor
    Town of Gilcrest
    Fort Morgan
    City of Firestone
    Department of Local Affairs
    Division of Emergency Management
    CDPS State Patrol and Division of Fire Safety
    Colorado Department of Agriculture
    Colorado Department Human Services
    Division of Mental Health

    CDPHE
    CDOT
    National Guard
    FEMA Region VIII
    U.S Department of Homeland Security
    Salvation Army
    American Red Cross
    Colorado Volunteers Active in Disasters
    Mutual Aid from Jefferson County, Boulder County, City of Cheyenne, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.


  5. State assistance: Activation of Colorado National Guard and other TBD

  6. Deaths: One confirmed death / Major Injuries: Unknown number at this time

  7. Damage: Severe damage to business and residential structures

  8. Current Status:

    Governor has issued a verbal executive order for a disaster declaration.

    Six reported tornadoes touched down in Northeastern Colorado. Weld County declared a county disaster and requested the following

    State and FEMA Post-disaster Damage Assessment Teams (PDA) and an IMT team Type III are staging at the Weld County EOC.

    A Northeast Colorado Short Team has been requested to stage at Ft. Morgan and ongoing rescue operations in Windsor.

    Interstate I-25 and US Hwy 85 are now open to traffic.

    Two shelters have been established at the Windsor Community Center and the Budweiser event Center.

    Colorado State Patrol has Troopers on scene for traffic control and security activities.

    The CoWarn network has been activated to support damaged waste water treatment facilities.

    Local mental health agencies are responding to Windsor and surrounding area.

    Division of Emergency Management is assisting local first responders with planning resources.

  9. Future threats: Tornado watch till 8:00 pm in the Northeast region, availability of potable drinking water, possible water contamination with sewage lines, continued loss of electricity which may impact refrigerated foods/medications.

  10. Incident Command Jurisdiction/Location: Weld County EOC in Greeley CO.