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Tornado-Damaged Properties Seen As Possible Safety Hazard

Town Officials Request Homes, Business Be Fenced Up

POSTED: 9:38 pm MST November 3, 2008
UPDATED: 11:09 pm MST November 3, 2008

Windsor town officials have sent letters to a handful of owners requesting their property be made safe or install fencing.

The 14 properties have yet to be repaired since a tornado cut through the small Northern Colorado town May 22.

"It's been really a struggle and a hardship for these people," said Faye Fanning, whose newly rebuilt home sits adjacent to a couple of empty foundations.

Following the tornado, 450 properties were deemed unsafe or unlivable. One person was killed.

Five months later, about 5 percent of the damaged homes still haven't been repaired.

As for why, Fanning said in her neighborhood, every home has a story.

"I think a lot of people are struggling with their insurance companies and getting things approved, they're not wanting to cover things they need to have done," Fanning said, and added one neighbor is currently working with her fifth contractor.

"We're getting to the point, where as winter sets in, we have concerns," said Kelly Arnold, Windsor town manager

Kelly said letters were sent out Friday asking properties be made safe or a fence placed around areas that could be hazardous.

"People are calling, following up with those letters and giving us their plans of what they're going to do," said Arnold, who added most property owners have been cooperative.

Arnold explained identified property owners have until Nov. 18 to comply, otherwise the town would install fencing at the owner’s expense.

One former business is on the list. The rest are houses.

The Long Term Recovery Team is still mobilized to assist owners who can’t afford to make their property safe, Arnold said.

Many town officials feel fortunate only a small number of properties are of concern now, considering Federal Emergecy Management Agency estimated it would be one to two years before Windsor would fully recover.

Fanning agreed. “We're starting to see people get back in the neighborhood again; it's starting to look like home again."

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