Three confirmed tornados tore through Colorado Saturday afternoon, perhaps none worse than the one in Wray.
The town of 2,800 in Northeast Colorado is left cleaning up after an EF-2 tornado sent five people to the hospital. It also left five homeowners and business owners cleaning up debris. Talk to them, however, and they’ll tell you more about the help rather than the damage.
“What a privilege to live in Wray Colorado,” said Bob Sitzman who had his pasture of more than 100 cattle torn up by the storm.
Hang around the folks in Wray long enough and something becomes blatantly clear; they’ve got character.
“What better thing can you do on Mother’s Day but take care of your family?” said Ruth Houston who brought lunch to those helping Bob clean up.
After all character is what brought this potluck of family and strangers together in a time of need.
“People I don’t even know were out here helping gather up trash,” Sitzman said.
Nobody hopes for an EF-2 tornado. They can only hope for the response that came on Sunday.
“I said I wanted the building moved, and it’s kind of where I wanted it but not near sitting where I wanted it,” joked Mary Stevens whose home was torn up by the tornado.
Stevens has more character than most can hope for as the storm passed right through her home.
“It got close enough and I said it’s going to hit us so we ran the other direction in the house,” she said remembering the events.
From tossed sheds to cracked foundations the tornado had its way, leaving roof tiles slung across the ground and her garage crumbled.
But no matter the Stevens’ resolve is the same.
“Everything is still OK. All the important things are still here,” she said.
PHOTOS: Wray tornado
Things will take time to get back to normal. Good thing this small town has some strong character to pass the time.
“This is the first [tornado] I’ve been in,” Stevens said. “Chances are there won’t be another one but then if there is hopefully I’ll still be here to talk about it.”
The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office has not yet estimated the cost of damage left behind by the tornado.
