A severe, fast-moving thunderstorm tore through Pueblo Tuesday afternoon, downing trees and power lines, causing significant flooding and inflicting other property damage across the city.
In a 4:30 p.m. news release, officials from Pueblo’s Public Works department said they were aware of “several downed tree limbs and other damages caused by the recent storm” and workers were “already working on cleaning up the fallen limbs and trees as fast as possible.”
“Please be patient as they work their way across the city. They will be addressing damages in parks, street ways and other city owned property,” Public Works officials stated in the release.
Pueblo residents who need to report damage to city-owned property can do so by contacting Pueblo Public Works at 719-553-2295.
The Pueblo Fire Department stated in an afternoon Facebook post that firefighters were responding to multiple calls for service around the “entire city” and residents should be aware that standing water on roadways can be “very dangerous and should be avoided.”
“As this fast moving storm dumps rain all over town we would like to remind you to TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN by not driving through standing water,” department officials stated in the post.
“The high winds have also created power line issues across the city as well. Please avoid all downed power lines and remain in your automobile if a power line is in contact with your vehicle.”
‘Turn around, don’t drown’: How to stay safe in a flood
According to the National Weather Service, more deaths occur each year due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm-related hazard.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters,” the NWS states on its website.
“People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in cars swept downstream. Many of these drownings are preventable.”
The NWS says you should never drive around the barriers blocking a flooded road, as the road may have collapsed under the water.
“A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.”
Pueblo public safety: Colorado State Patrol saw record-high pedestrian deaths in 2023. How many were in Pueblo?
Chieftain Editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at [email protected], or on X, at @ZachHillstrom. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribre.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Fast-moving thunderstorm tears through Pueblo, Colorado
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