Devastating Hailstorm Ravages Eastern Colorado Towns of YUMA and WRAY
A severe hailstorm struck eastern Colorado late Monday night, causing significant damage to many homes and businesses.
According to reports, the storm, which mostly affected the towns of Yuma and Wray, dumped hail on each for almost 30 minutes.
“The sky looked funny,” observed Paula Pariset, a Yuma resident for many years.
Pariset and her husband, Steve, said they heard tornado sirens before the storm hit.
“Initially, they received a tornado warning. We believed it was over and went upstairs. “And then it cut loose, the hail,” Steve explained.
“We were sitting in our basement holding onto our pets,” added Paula. “We heard the glass breaking upstairs.”
The pair stated that they felt compelled to go upstairs and plug the broken windows to prevent additional harm from the wind and rain.
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“We came upstairs and started holding down a curtain to prevent the glass from flying so far and listened to the glass fall for 30 minutes,” Steve recalled.
The hurricane caused substantial damage to shops and churches in Wray, which is to their east.
“Last night, a hailstorm shattered every west-facing window in town. “Siding and roofing, it’s been a crazy time,” said Mike Harms, owner of Wray Lumber Company.
Harms started his business to help individuals board up their houses and businesses.
“We opened at 11 p.m. last night.” “We stayed here until 2, 2:30 last night,” Harms said.
As the sun came out, people in both towns were able to see how broad the destruction was.
Oh my god. “It was Armageddon,” Paula explained.
Though the damage resulted in a significant increase in revenue for Harms, he stated that this is the type of business he would never want.
“Around 1,200 sheets of plywood have gone out of my place today,” stated Harms.
The community stated that livestock was killed i
n the hail storm, and at least one horse was found dead on the side of the roadway in Yuma.
Though the storms caused major damage to houses, buildings, cars, and other items, CBS News Colorado spoke with residents who predicted the community would swiftly band together to recover.
“Everybody works together in a small town,” Steve Pariset explained.