EnviroPest Recovering From Devastating Tornado

A large tornado skipped through several northern Colorado towns on May 22, causing devasting destruction to homes and businesses, including Windsor, Colo.-based EnviroPest. (Photo: Marc Dykstra)

WINDSOR, Colo. - A large tornado skipped through several northern Colorado towns on May 22, destroying dozens of homes, flipping tractor-trailers and freight rail cars, and killing at least one person.

The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down just before noon near Platteville, about 50 miles north of Denver. Over the next hour, it moved northward past several towns along 35-mile-long track toward Wyoming.

In Windsor, Colo., a farming town of 16,000 that was hardest hit, dazed residents retrieved what they could from their homes. The office of Windsor, Colo-based EnviroPest was among the structures in the tornado's path. EnviroPest Owner Richard Dykstra told the Associated Press that he was in the building with six other people when it began to hail and the roof began to slide off the building. "We had about 90 seconds, but we managed to get into the basement," Dykstra said.

He said he then ran to a day care center where his grandson was. No children were hurt, and they were herded into a vault at a nearby bank until the storm system cleared.

EnviroPest is still recovering from the story, and Marc Dysktra, president of EnviroPest, said the company has been greatly aided by the following:

• Rez Men's 6:33 — John, Jerry, Steve, Les and the rest of the gang for helping the company move so quickly
• Sprint — Brent Cooper for getting EnviroPest Internet (for free) in two days,
• Bank of Choice — Doug Couse for making sure the company's finances were taken care of.
• Davidson Gebhart Chevrolet — For loaning Marc Dykstra a car since his was totalled in the storm.
• Dellenbach Chevrolet — For loaning Richard Dykstra a truck since his was totalled, too.
• Mountain - N - Plains — For helping EnviroPest find a temporary office the next day.
• Marathon Data Systems — For EnviroPest's remotely hosted computer software.
• Aretta Communications —  For the company's remotely hosted phone system.

Dykstra also took several photos in the aftermath of the storm, which can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/MarcsiMac/WindsorTornadoDestruction.