Cleanup is on after massive microburst rips through Tacna
News 11's Cody Lee & CBS 13's Luis Lopez tour the destruction left behind
TACNA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Wednesday evening a microburst brushed over the Far East part of Yuma County. It left residents displaced and without power.
“We didn't get any damage to the house. Thank God for that,” said Renardo Shockley, a Tacna resident.
The strong gusts of wind tore off several roofs and snapped multiple power lines causing the power to go out. According to YCSO, most of the power has been restored but some are still without power.
A longtime resident told our news crews they have never seen anything like it. Another local shared video of a giant tree that uprooted in their front yard.
The most damage Shockley is dealing with is in his backyard.
“You can pretty much get an idea of what pretty much happened out it's a little rubbish. This was my Tacna tiki bar I built this all by myself. And now, this is what we have.” Shockley explained. “Never seen nothing like this. I've seen it on tv but I've never seen it actually in real life, but it is what it is it's just mother nature, and there's nothing you can do about mother nature,” he added.
The American Red Cross was on scene to aide YCSO search and rescue volunteers. Three families received additional care.
Eligio Rivas is a volunteer with the American Red Cross disaster relief team. “We provided them with immediate financial assistance. We opened the case for them and we also told them that we will be contacting our partners within the city and county of Yuma, to see what they can help them with.”