SANTA FE, N.M. – An EF-1 tornado damaged homes, cars and utility lines in a Santa Fe neighborhood leaving some families without power and water two days later.
Neighbors told KOB 4 they are now trying to return to normal while some wait to learn whether their homes can be saved.
For David Martinez, the damage hit his backyard Saturday night after the tornado moved through. His family spent a second night without water and power because more repairs were needed before service could return.
“It felt like we were camping in our own house, to put it simply. But yeah, you don’t realize how much you depend on electricity until it’s gone,” Martinez said.
Martinez said he is relying on neighbors for electricity for now. A few houses away, other homes also took heavy damage and some are not livable right now.
“So when this roof came over, it damaged the top of this roof and the gas lines were broken. So the fire department shut off the gas and took the meter. So therefore, it’s uninhabitable at the moment,” Mary Elsesser said.
Christopher Dow said he felt his house shift during the storm and now he is waiting to learn how bad the damage is.
“I think, you know, that the house actually moved a little bit off of its foundation because everything’s kind of shifted,” Dow said. “Even in the bedroom on the other side of the house is covered in dirt and stuff from everything moving.”
“We get a lot of hail and rain, but never a tornado. That’s more for Kansas, right?” Dow said. “But I’m glad I’m good. I could have been a lot worse.”
PNM said Saturday’s tornado left more than 400 customers without power and damaged five power poles. As of Sunday, PNM said 10 customers were still without electricity because those homeowners needed extra repairs before power could be restored.
