Cleanup underway after rare tornado hits Scotts Valley
SCOTTS VALLEY, California - Residents in Scotts Valley spent much of the weekend cleaning up debris and trying to get back to normal after an unexpected tornado hit the area Saturday afternoon.
The National Weather Service categorized the tornado as an EF1 and at least five people were injured.
"It was pretty crazy. I was outside because we had gotten the alert for severe thunderstorms, and I went out to watch,"said Dan Quinto of Scotts Valley.
Broken tree limbs and a damaged car were still in the Safeway parking lot on Mt. Hermon Road on Sunday afternoon. Some residents talked about the extreme weather event and how unusual it was in this area.
"I could see what I thought was a bunch of birds but what it was, was the debris from the top of the tornado. It was kind of right over that way," said Quinto, who lives in a mobile home park. "Like I said, I worked in emergency services for 47 years. I’ve seen floods, fires, all kinds of stuff. Never a tornado. That was the first tornado I’ve ever seen."
Scotts Valley police say tornado winds flipped over six cars, including a Cal Fire pickup truck, and knocked down trees and power lines in its path.
Police confirmed five people also suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Monica Keller told us she got caught outside near Ace Hardware when the tornado hit.
"I was trying to go indoors, and I said I can’t get inside right now. I couldn’t get across the parking lot," said Monica Keller of Scotts Valley.
On Bean Creek Road, a witness said an uprooted tree damaged a part of the roof at Scotts Valley Middle School.
Jen Isola said a large tree also fell on her Jeep during the storm, and she’s just happy her family is safe.
"I’m grateful that we were not in the jeep, and I’m very sorry to hear that some people did end up in the hospital. But really, we didn’t expect to see a tornado in Scotts Valley ever," said Isola.
As of Sunday night, PG&E’s website showed that 99 percent of homes and businesses in Scotts Valley had power.