HOLLY, Colo. -- A storm that hadn't even been on Pueblo-based radar grew in fury so fast that forecasters weren't able to issue a warning until a few minutes after a tornado hit Holly.

That twister caused the first tornado-related death in Colorado since June 1960. The National Weather Service said preliminary reports say the tornado had winds of up to 199 mph.

Many residents said that they had no warning that a twister was approaching.

"There was no chance for anyone to spot it because it didn't power up until just south of town," National Weather Service forecaster Tom Magnuson said during a visit to Holly.

The storm that hadn't even been on the radar, which is based in Pueblo and is 136 miles west of Holly, until it suddenly became visible to forecasters as a tornado at about 8 p.m., a few minutes after it hit the farm town of 1,000 people.

It went from a Category Two tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with winds of 110 mph to 137 mph, to preliminary reports of winds of up to 199 mph, which could make it a Category Four -- a strength rarely seen in Colorado.

"When you get these big loads of low pressure that move over the Rockies, they draw up a lot of moisture from the Gulf. That creates unstable conditions," said forecaster Kyle Fredin in Denver. "The cold plays a big role. A dry line met up with the wet air, and that is just a classic model to produce tornadic weather."

The same massive spring storm, which spawned tornadoes in other states, dumped more than a foot of snow in the Rockies. It killed two people in Oklahoma and one in Texas.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for southeastern Colorado Wednesday evening but did not issue a tornado watch, although offices in Goodland and Dodge City, Kan., had issued tornado watches for western Kansas.

"There was a dry line at the Kansas line (6 miles to the east of Holly). At that time our forecaster thought the moist line was going to stay east of the line in Kansas. But it drifted west," Fredin said. "Forecasting is not an exact science. We obviously will review the case to improve our forecasts for the future."

Had a watch been issued, residents might have seen it on television or heard it over the weather service's radio channel.

Magnuson said existing radar can only see three miles above the ground in the Holly area -- and that it takes four minutes for the system to digest the information and get it back to forecasters.

Nearly all the residents who talked to 7NEWS said that they never saw it coming.

The brother-in-law of the victim said that the family didn't know that a tornado was even nearby. Rosemary Rosales and her family was in the living room when they were sucked out of their home.

"They didn't expect it. They didn't even have a chance to let off the siren," said Oscar Puga, Rosales' brother-in-law.

"The baby was sleeping in the front room. All they heard was this big ugly noise, and they didn't have no time to run," said Victoria Rosales, the victim's aunt.

Judy Salgado was in her home when the twister knocked her home off its foundations. She said the first sign was that the lights in her house went out.

"I touched my husband. And that's when we grabbed each other. I told him, 'Don't let go of me.' And that's when I felt the house lift up," Salgado said. "When it got stronger, I felt the house get lifted up. And it lifted it up, moved it, and then it went back down to the ground."

Her house shifted five feet off its foundation.

"It came in so fast," her husband, Victor Salgado, said.

Emergency response officials said that tornado sirens never sounded.

Holly is located on the fringe of weather radar systems, and the distance between radar facilities and the community may have limited the ability of weather officials to detect the storm, said Linda Fairbairn, an administrator for Prowers County.

Picking Up The Pieces

Hundreds of volunteers from nearby communities are returning to help residents there pick up the pieces after the tornado tore a 2-mile swath through the town.

The 600-foot wide twister killed a 29-year-old mother, injured 10 people, destroyed 35 homes and damaged nearly 30 other homes.

Rosemary Rosales was in the kitchen when the tornado roared through and flung her and her family into a tree. Her husband and 3-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries.

Most of the damage happened in a two-by-eight block area of the community.

The mayor of Holly said he'll start to tear down what's left of his home Friday and then start rebuilding right away. Tom Crum said the town has survived disasters before, including a flood in 1965, and a blizzard this past winter, and Holly will make it through this disaster, too.

"We're still alive. That's what counts, that's what counts," Crum said.

The remains of Crum's house were littered with dirt, branches and glass shards. All the windows were blown out, and the ceiling buckled down in parts.

Holly is about 235 miles southeast of Denver, or about a five-hour drive. The town is near the Kansas state line in Prowers County.

FEMA Begins To Assess Damage

Gov. Bill Ritter is being asked to send national guard troops to help.

Ritter toured the area Thursday afternoon and said it's amazing to see the small town come together in the face of such tragedy.

He said if necessary, he will push for federal money to help with the recovery.

Crews with the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived in Holly at about noon Thursday. In the past FEMA said it would've waited for the state to ask for help before sending a team.

But federal agents said they've learned a lesson from the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

"We found that being part of the process from the beginning helps with the understanding and the communication and the willingness to work together at all levels," said Dan Griffith, with FEMA.

The town remains without power and residents are asked not to drink the water until safety tests can be completed.

Insurance adjusters are also out surveying the damage and most people feel confident about how that process is working, Ritter said.

Homeowners insurance covers damage from tornadoes, and damage to vehicles is covered if you carry comprehensive insurance on your auto policy, said Carole Walker, with the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

"Homeowners insurance also typically provides homeowners some extra out-of-pocket living expenses when they are forced out of their home due to a total loss, severe structural damage or a mandatory evacuation resulting from a tornado or other natural disaster," Walker said.

Colorado can average 30 to 40 tornadoes a year, with most occurring in late spring and early summer.

According to Walker, Colorado's most costly insured tornado losses were from the Limon tornado on June 6, 1990 resulting in $20 million in damage or $30.8 million in today's dollars.

Colorado's tornadoes have not added up to large insurance damage because they have historically touched down in less populated areas and the damage is typically more isolated than say a widespread hailstorm. Colorado's most costly insured catastrophe was from a July 11, 1990 hailstorm that hit along the Front Range causing $625 million in damage or $964 million in today’s dollars.

Survival Stories

Red Cross and the Salvation Army are helping feed displaced residents and volunteers. On Friday, the Salvation Army served breakfast in the cafeteria of the high school served dinner to about 200 people Thursday night.

There are dozens of stories of survival coming out of this disaster. Lifetime Prowers resident, 89- year-old Louise Neill was outside her home mowing her lawn before the twister hit.

Her daughter called and told her to take cover, and that's when the tornado struck.

Neill was brought to Swedish Medical Center in Denver. She said she was amazed by the force of the storm and the fact that she was able to walk away. She is thankful for all the help she has received.

"I didn't have shoes. I just got out and I started to walk. And I walked about two blocks. And a couple of boys saw me and they picked me up and carried me to where I could get help, which I appreciated very, very much," she said.

Neill is already out of the hospital and her only injuries are a few scrapes and bruises, which is remarkable considering her home was destroyed.

How To Help:

Financial donations may be directed to Prowers County, 301 S. Main Street, Suite 215, Lamar, CO 81052. County officials will direct any monetary aid to the community.
Adventist Community Services is coordinating donations. They are in need of new, clean underwear and diapers of all sizes. Donations can be dropped off at 5045 W. 1st in Denver. Money, Household goods and clothing are also being accepted.