Holly – Volunteers started arriving in Holly by the dozens at daylight Saturday, grabbing debris, manning chainsaws and extending the hand of friendship to this tornado-stricken town on the Eastern Plains.
“The Lord commands us all to help,” said the Rev. David Sharp, who led a 20-member church group to this tornado-stricken town Saturday. “Some are just better about listeners.”
Law enforcement officers, utilities officials, state agency managers, volunteer coordinators met at 7:30 a.m. in the Holly Jr.-Sr. School Library to make plans Saturday.
“We’re quickly moving into recovery today,” said Chad Ray, the disaster coordinator with the Colorado Division of Emergency Management.
After an assessment by state and federal agencies Friday afternoon, the first official comprehensive numbers were released Saturday morning:
Gas had been restored completely to the area, but only 65 percent of the area had power Saturday morning.
The figures were expected to reach 75 percent by the end of the day, Ray said.
Though water service had been restored throughout town, residents were advised not to drink it Saturday while safety tests continue.
On Saturday morning, more than 400 people had received tetanus shots in Holly, according to the Prowers County Health Department.
“Better safe than sorry,” said Pete Jensen, a tree surgeon from the Western Slope after getting an inoculation.
“There’s a big mess out there, and there’s no reason to compound the tragedy,” he said.
Residents were grateful for the help.
“This is the saddest thing to ever happen around here,” said Ciera Lopez, who lives just outside town in a rented house that lost much of its roof. “The kindness of others has been the only positive thing.”
Five mental health counselors were on duty Saturday.
“This has been a very traumatic situation,” Ray said.
A town meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Monday night in the school cafeteria.
The American Red Cross will also open a “store” Monday for storm victims to collect donations they need to begin rebuilding their lives.
Sheriff Jim Faull reminded disaster workers of the roll of peacemakers, as the harried cleanup and recovery steamed forward Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot of good people here trying to do a lot of good work,” he said. “We need to try to keep a lid on tempers; we’re all in this together.”
He urged extra patience and compassion for victims.
“It’s starting to hit people,” he said. “The adrenaline has been pumping for a couple of days, but now the reality is starting to set it: I don’t have a house to live in.”
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
