Town of Limon still digging themselves out after winter storm

LIMON, Colo. — The town of Limon received 35.5 inches of snow this week, creating long days for first responders, drivers, and people living in the Eastern Plains town.

On Saturday, Corrin Perry, the fire chief for the Limon Area Fire Protection District, told 9NEWS that crews had been working hard all week. 

“Most people still can’t get out of their houses so we are plowing driveways sort of getting that relief so people can have a safe weekend,” said Perry. 

Town of Limon Police Chief Lynn Yowell said the past week meant some grueling hours for everyone. 

“I got into it Thursday morning and stayed in it until 1:30 Friday morning and then put in another 12 today. So yeah, we have had some grueling hours,” said Yowell. 

Yowell said a lot of their efforts went to rescuing people whose cars were stuck in the snow on Interstate 70. 

“Last night got real intense with the wind — we have had a lot of snow over the past four days and that’s an event that we haven’t seen much of for quite a few years, maybe 30 years now,” said Yowell.  

Yowell said they also got help from the National Guard. 

“Some of them maybe 2-3 hours, maybe some of them 10-12 hours and it was time to get them out of their vehicles and get them in someplace warm so that was our main mission last night,” said Yowell. 

On Saturday, he said the National Guard’s Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) helped rescue some of those drivers but also first responders he said were trapped in the snow. 

“The wind was blowing the snow back in behind us and then we are getting ourselves stuck and then somebody else has to come get us out,” said Yowell.  

Yowell and Perry told 9NEWS they were grateful that many people living in town stayed home and off the roads. 

“It could have been worse by far,” said Yowell.