22 May 2008. Windsor, Colorado, Hit by Tornado. “You Never Expect Anything Like This…”

With heavy heart I write this blog today.

Windsor, Colorado, is a wonderful, small farming community of about 16,000 people. I can truely say that I love the town, many of the people, and have deep, rich memories of my grandsons growing up and having fun in Windsor. There is a plaque on the wall of the Windsor Charter Academy ( that sustained tornado damage ) with my daughter’s name on it. She was one of the Founding Mothers. She and a few others brought the idea of a charter school into reality. Her sons attended the school that their mother helped create and build. As the library was created, it was stored in my daughter’s home, one of the many older homes that were damaged in the tornado. The tornado roared into the old neighborhoods of Windsor on the northeast side of town.

On this 9News video clip below, I saw their old 100-year old home. At least, I believe that it is in this video. There are not too many 100-year-old Churches with bell towers in the section of Windsor that was hard hit. My daughter and her family bought the old church and began to convert it into a private residence.

My prayers are with the wonderful family who lives there now, and with the rest of the town.

22 May 2008 - Tornado hits Windsor, Colorado

There are many news reports and videos focused on this disaster. I have read through much of it. Many names in these reports are familiar to me. I sorrow for the man who died, and rejoice for the rest of the town that lived. It is a miracle that with more than 100 homes that were devastated by the tornado, that the people were preserved.

“This tornado moved through here in three to five minutes.” Windsor Police Chief John Michaels said. “It’s going to be much longer to put everything back together again.”

“Safety is first and foremost,” Windsor Mayor John Vazquez said. Big orange X’s mark the houses in Windsor unfit for habitation, and there are dozens of them.

Gov. Bill Ritter has declared a state of emergency in Weld County. You can stay current with Windsor’s recovery by reading the local newspaper, the Windsor Beacon online at: http://www.windsorbeacon.com.

Here is a listing of what these wonderful people need and do not need. The information was gathered from many news sources and was current at the time I wrote this post. I hope that this information is still correct and useful in helping in this disaster. The Weld County Sheriff’s Office also offered guidelines for people who want to help:

• Travelers with no official business in the area are asked to stay away.
• The Weld County Sheriff’s Office tells the public they can search for family and friends impacted by the storm at Red Cross www.safeandwell.org. People impacted by the disaster can also register at www.safeandwell.org to indicate they are OK.
• The Weld County Emergency Operations Center is asking anyone with photographs of the disaster to send them to sscofield@co.weld.co.us.
• For those who would like to volunteer to help with cleanup efforts, DO NOT simply show up in Windsor. You need to get involved with an organizaation. The best place to start is by contacting the Larimer and/or Weld County United Way. The United Way’s 2-1-1 system is facilitating response. If you need information about shelters, road closures, donations and volunteering for cleanup please dial 2-1-1.
• Anyone wanting to donate time, money, or resources can call United Way at 211 or 970-353-4300 or 800-559-5590.
• Bill Easterling, the incident management team commander, said Safeway, 1535 Main St., has agreed to honor prescriptions from other pharmacies. He said if for some reason residents cannot get prescriptions filled to call the emergency operations center at 686-2626.
• Families affected by the tornado who need to replace household items can obtain vouchers to shop in Goodwill stores in northern Colorado. Those who need vouchers — available through the Mile High United Way — should call the United Way’s 211 emergency line or call 303-433-8900. The stores that will be accepting the vouchers are in Greeley at 1012 11th Street, in Loveland at 935 E. Eisenhower and in Fort Collins at 315 Pavilion Lane.
• The Red Cross dispatched a truckload of supplies from Denver to stock the Windsor shelter, Spokesman Robert Thompson said. The truck carried cots, bankets, toiletries and food. Thompson said the public can make financial donations on line or by mail to the American Red Cross Centennial Chapter, 120 Saturn Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525.
• The Weld County Food Bank is in need of donations, cash and food. CALL FIRST, 970-356-2199, Ext 304, to volunteer or donate. Please call for current needs with relief efforts. The food bank is located at 1108 H Street in Greeley.
• Coordinate with your preferred disaster response agency to ensure the right type and amount of items are collected. A list of current needs is available by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-559-5590 or going to www.weldsheriff.com.
• A financial contribution earmarked for a particular disaster response like Central Weld Tornado is often the most efficient way to help. Cash helps ensure the agency can get exactly what is needed and provides an easily documented tax deduction for you.

I pray for Windsor and the wonderful people who live and work there. Below is a beautifully put together video that I found on YouTube to show what happened to Windsor, Colorado, on 22 May 2008. The Day The Tornado Came To Town.

To quote Vickie Edwards as she surveyed her damaged house, “It gives me a new perspective.”

Love and prayers,

Barbara