Southeast Colorado Springs neighbors clean up after high winds hammer homes
Julia Donovan
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – People who live in parts of Southeast Colorado Springs are cleaning up downed trees and surveying the damage after high winds took a toll on the area Thursday night.
KRDO crews spoke with neighbors in the Chelton and Airport Road area as they cleaned up the mess on Friday. They told us everything happened in a matter of seconds, hearing heavy hail and then loud noises as trees came crashing down and power lines were ripped out.
“I grew up in Illinois, and we definitely had our fair share of microbursts and tornadoes, but I’ve never seen anything that fast,” said resident Keegan McArthur.
Neighbors say power was out in the neighborhood for several hours before it was restored in the early morning hours.
Utility crews in El Paso County, pictured, assess the damage following a Thursday night storm.
We’re told one downed tree caused a gas leak that has since been repaired on Overton Street.
People who live in the area say the neighborhood united after the fact to check on those with more severe property damage and make sure everyone was okay.
“It was cool to see the community come together and start chopping branches and moving things, and everybody was checking on each other,” said Keegan.
“The neighborhood got together, we walked all the way up the street, cleared it – everybody worked as a unit,” Tino Garcia reiterated. “Great neighbors.”
Neighbors don’t believe anyone was injured, but we’re waiting to hear back from authorities for confirmation.
We’ve also reached out to the National Weather Service to see if it plans to send crews out to survey the damage and clarify what weather phenomenon caused it.
A tree came crashing down on Fairmont Street in El Paso County. This photo was taken on Aug. 29, 2025, the morning following the storm.