Tornado kills woman, decimates homes

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HOLLY - A tornado as wide as two football fields carved a destructive path through this small southeastern Colorado town, killing one person and injuring 11 others.

Initial reports said five homes were destroyed and up to 65 other homes were severely damaged when the twister roared through Holly, Colorado shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday.

"It just looks like a bomb went off," said rancher Bill Lowe, who lost at least 35 cattle to the tornado.

The residents say they had no warning unless they were watching television and saw the alerts. They told 9NEWS the sirens did not go off.

Local officials tell 9NEWS they are looking into what happened and why the sirens did not work.

Rosemary Rosales, 29, died of massive injuries, Prowers County Coroner Joe Giadone said Thursday.

Rosales died after being airlifted to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, about 160 miles west of Holly. Her family was with her when she died at around 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

Family members and doctors from Memorial held a press conference Thursday morning where doctors said they did everything they could to try and save her life.

"She always took care of her kids. She always took care of her husband and that was her main priority," said Victoria Rosales, Rosemary's aunt.

Rosales' family members told reporters she was in a trailer with her common-law husband, Gustavo Puga, and 3-year-old daughter, Noelia Puga, when the tornado struck. The family said they had no warning and the house was torn apart by the force of the twister.

All three were thrown into nearby trees; Rosales' and Gustavo Puga into one, and Noelia into another.

Gustavo suffered serious injuries, but doctors say they are not life threatening. Noelia suffered a skull fracture, but is in good condition and could be released Thursday.

Rodney Anderson says he rushed to help after the tornado tore through Rosales' home.

"I got to her and all I could do was hold her head and hold her hand," he said.

He says she was hanging by her legs, while her Gustavowas cradling Noelia in his arms.

The couple's 7-year-old son, Gus, was at his grandmother's home, a few blocks away.

Eleven victims were transported to Prowers Medical Center in Lamar, about 30 miles to the west for treatment of injuries, and seven of those were transported on to other Colorado hospitals by aircraft for treatment of serious injuries.

It took four helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft to transport the injured, said Shawna Hodges, a spokeswoman for Prowers Medical Center in nearby Lamar.

Emergency responders said they believe everyone has been accounted for in Holly, which has a population of around 1,000 and is near the Kansas border.

Streets were littered with power lines, tree limbs and other debris.

Before leaving for Holly, Governor Bill Ritter said he will do whatever it takes to help the town recover. However, the state has not yet made an official disaster declaration.

Ritter took an aerial survey of Holly Thursday afternoon.

"We feel sorry for them and we're going to do all we can to help them," said Ritter

Ritter says the widespread damage from his viewpoint reminded him of a time in Florida after Hurricane Andrew.

Ritter says they are going to investigate closely why the warning sirens did not activate.

"I'm not sure it was a failure. We're going to look at the system and find out whether or not it was adequate," said Ritter.

A FEMA team is also headed to the area and will decide whether the town qualifies for federal aid.

Starting at 11 a.m. Friday, FEMA will conduct a joint preliminary damage assessment for the town. They will be looking at homes damaged, the extent of the damage and what kind of insurance there was.

This is the first step in the process for the state to request Federal assistance. For the next three days, FEMA will also be monitoring the situation from the Federal Center in Denver.

After the damage assessment is complete, the state can request a presidential disaster declaration which can free up federal assistance dollars.

Town officials estimate clean up and recovery will take months to complete.

They are asking people who wish to donate food, clothing or other items to hold off until they can clearly determine what is needed.

However, financial contributions are being accepted and can be sent to the following address:

Prowers County 301 S. Main Street, Suite 301 Lamar, CO 81052

The Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross is also encouraging people to donate through their Web site at www.denver-redcross.org.

You can also help through the Salvation Army. Click here for the Salvation Army Web site.