East valley residents surprised by tornado confirmation

Crews are still working to repair the damage from last Thursday’s storm that hit the east valley.

The National Weather Service now says a tornado touched down in that area, taking with it more than a hundred power poles.

That twister caused power outages that impacted thousands of customers.

East valley residents were shocked when they found out the storm was actually a small tornado.

“I was really surprised. I’ve been here 38 years. Something like this has never happened,” saidGuadalupe Macias who lives in Thermal.

Heidi Korzep was trying to get to work when she saw live power lines blocking her way last Thursday.

“There were like telephone cables laying on the ground. It was all knocked down and there were barriers that I moved and then I saw the massive damage,” Korzep said.

Now businesses are just happy they have power.

The thrift store up the road had to close for three days while power was being restored.

“On Monday morning they were here putting up the generators. They stepped up to the plate and they’re doing a good job,” business owner Mirella Sanchez said.

She said those days she was closed were just par for the course.

Still, some areas still have a ways to go.

Macias is worried about having wires in her front yard.

“I’m really nervous, especially with my grandkids. You never know what could happen. I don’t let them in the front yard,” Macias said.

But crews have made progress and are working to fix the damage that remains.

Until that time Macias is trying to conserve as much power as possible.

But she knows it could be months before her front yard returns to normal.