Tornadoes Strike Overnight In Southeastern Colorado

LAMAR, Colo. (CBS4) - Power lines are down, several structures are damaged and there are some minor injuries in Southeastern Colorado after weather officials say tornadoes touched down overnight.

It could be several hours before power is restored to residents in Lamar, Eads and other areas on the Eastern Plains. A large power substation was knocked out of power south of Lamar.

Several supercell thunderstorms passed through the region after 2 a.m. and tornadoes were reported in several different places in the hour or so that followed, according to weather officials in Pueblo.

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The fire chief for the Wiley Fire Department told CBS4 two tornadoes touched down south of Lamar.

Another tornado then touched down north of Lamar in the small town of Chivington in Kiowa County. One person was reportedly trapped in a home there. Authorities said that person was rescued and is receiving medical attention.

Weather experts were studying data to determine the size and force of the tornadoes.

Janet DeWitt, a Kiowa County resident, told CBS4 partner KKTV her property has damage "like you see with a major tornado." She said the winds "took the whole roof."

"There's concrete on the bed. If we'd been in the bed we wouldn't be talking to you this morning. It took off the whole roof. We had major tree damage, major car damage. Our house trailer if flipped over. We do have some dead horses, I believe," she said.

No major injuries were reported, but some people had minor injuries.

The sheriff's offices in Kiowa, Prowers and Bent Counties are out checking homes and assessing damage.

Officials with the Colorado Department of Transportation said on Friday morning that gas was not available at gas stations in the affected areas due to the power issues.

There were also some reports that tornado sirens in the area didn't go off due to power outages.