Scotts Valley Tornado: Several injured, ‘extensive’ property damage reported after EF1 twister

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) — Security camera footage from Bruno’s Bar and Grill in Scotts Valley shows a rapidly approaching tornado heading straight for the restaurant.

“It started over that way and started coming over this way. So it was pretty crazy,” said Jazmyn Doubek, who works at Bruno’s Bar and Grill.

At first there was concern that the tornado would hit the restaurant.

“But then it started to go away, so then we were all good,” she said.

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Like many, Doubek said, a tornado tearing through the Scotts Valley is not something she ever expected — nor was the aftermath it left behind.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect it to do that much damage. Especially flipping a car because cars are pretty heavy. So it was like, wow!” Doubeck said.

A video shared with ABC7 News showed very strong windy conditions with debris flying in the air as a car was driven down Mt. Hermon Road.

This video showed the twister at a mall parking lot in Scotts Valley.

The National Weather Service confirmed it was a tornado that touched down around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. A preliminary report released Saturday evening categorized the tornado as an EF1.

“I’ve been a law enforcement officer in Santa Cruz County for almost 28 years and this is the first I’ve experienced a tornado touchdown in our area. It was obviously shocking,” said Scotts Valley Police Capt. Scott Garner.

Garner said the damage was extensive. About six cars overturned. Debris was thrown around, causing significant damage to businesses and cars parked along the path of the tornado. PG&E power lines and poles were torn down. A massive tree was uprooted and landed on part of the middle school.

Garner said police and fire had to help evacuate people trapped by power lines in parking lots. He said a total of five people were injured, but none with life-threatening injuries.

“Their main concern (was) getting people out of there, making sure the power lines are secure, that the power is out, that vehicles that are being flipped aren’t spewing fuel,” Garner said.

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With the power cut, cars took detours through darkened shopping areas. Restaurants like Burger King and Taco Bell were closed for business. But when the tornado hit, everyone scrambled for safety.

“The first thing we tried to do was get the customers inside, just in case it was worse,” said Elizabet Bocanegra, who works at Taco Bell. “Then the doors started flapping open and shut, open and shut. So we grabbed them to close them. Then we watched the tornado go down, and then it ended — in an instant.”

The tornado came hours after the National Weather Service issued an unprecedented tornado warning earlier Saturday morning for San Francisco, but it was canceled after the rotating winds that caused the warning moved past the city.

Mount Herman Road, which is one of the main roads through Scotts Valley, also suffered extensive damage. Authorities say it will remain closed overnight so crews can continue to clean up.

Bay City News contributed to this report.