(The following story by Mike Peters appeared on the Greeley Tribune website on May 8.)
GREELEY, Colo. — Eleven power poles, which carried electricity to Union Pacific properties in La Salle, were blown down by last Friday’s powerful winds which swept through Weld County.
The poles remain on the ground along Railroad Drive south of La Salle. Most of the poles were snapped at ground level and fell in the area between the road and the railroad tracks, and many are laying partially on the road, with traffic cones to alert drivers. The lines were cut further down the line, so no power was reaching the downed poles.
Although Union Pacific Railroad did not release any information about the fallen poles, town officials said no homes were affected “They only carried electricity to the Union Pacific properties, said Police Chief and town administrator Carl Harvey. “They cut off the power through the lines immediately after the poles fell, so no one was in danger.”
UP employees in La Salle said Wednesday they couldn’t answer questions about the poles, and a media representative contacted Wednesday did not return calls by deadline.
Winds as high as 60 miles per hour stormed through Weld County Friday, causing extensive damage to trees, buildings and fences. Some crops also were severely damaged by the winds, and more than $400,000 in claims have been filed with State Farm Insurance.
Harvey said the town had some large and some small trees felled by the wind. Power poles outside the town — on Weld County Road 52 — also were broken by the wind, but power was later restored.
Harvey said he was told that Union Pacific would reset new poles this week, but other unidentified employees of Union Pacific said the lines may be buried.