Valley cleans up after monsoon storm left a trail of damages

PHOENIX (KSAZ) -- Cleanup efforts are ongoing in parts of the Valley, after a powerful monsoon storm plowed through the area Thursday night.

Buckeye Valley

The Buckeye Valley Fire Department says the first call for help came around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday night when a family of four was trapped inside a collapsed home, like this one.

The fire department says about 15 homes were destroyed during the storm that residents said lasted a good hour.

Buddy Starkey was standing inside his Buckeye Valley home when he shot this video. He says the winds outside were blowing at least 70 miles per hour.

"They were blowing so fast you could barely see 20 feet out," he said. "It was scary. We had to go into the closet for a while because of all the windows."

Eliasar Mazias, who also lives on Rainbow Valley Road. said his roof blew off across the street, and his son's arm is a little bruised and battered from the storm.

"We ran in, we saw part of the structure right here lifting and then it flew off," he said. "I shut the door. It was hard. I kind of beat up my arm a little."

"It was horrible, it was horrible," one neighbor said.

Surprise

"Never saw a storm like this... ever!" Fran Warren exclaimed. "After the worst of the storm had gone through, then the thunder and the lightning. It was just like a tornado went through. I was standing out in the backyard trying to hold the gazebo down and it was just like a tornado. I've never seen wind like that. I just don't think I'll go out today. I'm just going to clean up the mess."

Heavy rains also blocked off two lanes on Reems Road, putting a damper on the morning commute. Meanwhile, high winds left trees uprooted at nearly every corner, making the start to the day a challenge for some in the area.

"I walked around the corner and saw my car!" Kevin McGinnis exclaimed. "Oh my gosh! It was like a bomb. Many bombs went off! I couldn't believe it. It was really loud and crazy here!"

Even homes in a subdivision at Copper Canyon Ranch didn't get a chance to finish being built before they were taken down.