STAR VALLEY, Ariz. — A small town about 100 miles northeast of Phoenix is cleaning up after a historic tornado Sunday afternoon.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Flagstaff confirms an EF-1 tornado touched down in the Town of Star Valley near Payson just after 9:30 a.m.
NWS reports the tornado traveled at 95-105 miles per hour for about 100 yards.
A NWS survey crew is in Star Valley assessing the damage caused by the storm. Initial reports suggest about 20 homes suffered damages.
Several viewers have contacted 12News about damage to structures in the area following the weather event.
"This is the first time a tornado was ever documented in the Payson or Star Valley area," Hellsgate Fire Chief Morey Morris said.
Debris from trees, homes and cars covered the neighborhood.
“Several homes are uninhabitable. Many of them have roof damage. Some of them have minor damage," Morris said.
Dannie McMichael said she instantly knew something was wrong when she opened her door to let her dog outside.
"Sometimes, you just have an instinct," McMichael said.
McMichael took her dog and stood in the middle of the house as she waited for the tornado to pass.
“I looked out the front window and I was like uh, my porch is gone," McMichael said. "I still haven't found the roof to the porch."
Her neighbor, Carolyn Bennett, told 12News the tornado sounded unlike anything she's heard before.
"Like glass breaking, somebody turning metal around," Bennett said.
Across the way, Ada Herrington said she could feel the storm move over her home.
"The house just started shaking," Herrington said.
The small town came together to clean up after the historic tornado.
“Here the community members come together. My understanding is that they had two church congregations that they were in the middle of services when this happened," said Morris. "Their bishop or their pastor stopped services and told them to get your boots and Levi's on, we’re going to go and help out. We have several probably up to 25 or 30 of their members here doing that.”
Star Valley Councilman Matt Highstreet tells 12News that he spoke to emergency service in the area and no injuries from the weather event have been reported, just property damage.
Storm damage reported in Star Valley
Crews packed up as it turned dark and rainy with plans to return in the morning.
Other viewers captured videos or pictures of the storm itself, in which a funnel cloud can be seen spinning.
This is a developing story; additional details will be added as they become available.
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