Several early morning tornadoes ripped through southeastern Colorado causing severe damage to multiple homes and buildings near Lamar, about 200 miles southeast of Denver.
The twisters touched own in Prowers, Kiowa and Bent counties. Some minor injuries have been reported, and at least one resident trapped in a home had to be rescued, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Authorities are still assessing the damage, but the photo below accompanying this press release from the Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management is telling.
3:00 conference with Kiowa County PIO. Location to be announced. pic.twitter.com/nevwhFUm
— Chris Sorensen (@kcdem) April 27, 2012
For now, one of the biggest priorities is restoring power to the region. Gas pumps at fueling stations aren't working and the Colorado State Patrol is advising motorists and truckers to avoid the area for now if it all possible.
KUNC spoke with Sergeant Josh Lewis with the patrol earlier this morning.
"If at all possible try to avoid the area of Lamar and Prowers County in general. If you end up in the area and are unable to travel out of it you will be stuck there for the foreseeable future."
While severe thunderstorms with twisters are common in that part of the state, these came unusually early. They followed several days of record high temperatures.
