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Southwest Mobile Storage - Best Mobile Storage & Office Containers In Highlands Ranch, CO

Southwest Mobile Storage is a family-owned shipping container business founded in 1995. Our strength for more than 25 years comes from the specialized knowledge and passion of our people, along with serving over 24,000 commercial, construction and residential customers. Our facility and expertise in maintaining, manufacturing, and delivering corrugated steel containers is unrivaled in the industry.

While the rental side of our business is regional with branches throughout the Southwest, our container sales and modification operations are nationwide and becoming global. Highlands Ranch, CO offers a wide selection of portable offices and mobile storage containers you can rent, buy or modify.

Our experts in container rental, sales and customization are committed to providing you the highest quality and best experience from service to delivery - our reputation depends on it.

Whether your need is for storage, office space, moving, multi-purpose or custom use, we've got your back. Here's how:

Storage Containers Highlands Ranch, CO
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NO MATTER YOUR NEED, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK.

STORE AT YOUR LOCATION

We bring your storage container to you for convenient, easy access at your home, business or jobsite. Plus, you'll get more choice in storage space and better security, for a fraction of the cost of a pod or add on building, saving money and energy.

STORE AT OUR LOCATION

Not enough room to keep a storage container at your business, home or construction site? No problem - we can store it for you. Plus, you get 70% more space and better security, for a fraction of the cost of public storage units.

CUSTOM STORAGE

Need a permanent storage solution for your business, residence or construction? We sell new and used shipping containers in many sizes with a variety of add-ons. Or customize a container to your specific storage needs with our certified fabrication experts.

LOCAL MOVE

Take your time packing with our moving containers. We'll deliver to your business or home and pick it up whenever you're ready to move. So, you don't have to stress about moving or making multiple trips in one day, like if you rented a moving truck.

LONG-DISTANCE MOVE

Our moving container solutions ensure the long-distance move of your home or business is highly efficient and affordable throughout the southwest. In fact, we usually cost 20%-40% less than full-service movers.

MOVING & STORAGE

We understand move-in and move-out dates might be different. We can store your moving container at our highly secure facilities until you're ready to move to your new home or business location, and you can conveniently access it at any time.

OFFICE USE

Whether you need a workspace, conference room, or other office requirement, our ground-mounted mobile offices meet any and all of your business needs. Plus, it's faster and easier than building additions.

BUSINESS USE

If you need your shipping container to serve multiple uses, such as office-storage combos, breakrooms and even utilities, we've got you covered. We'll modify a custom container to fit your business needs and bring your business to the next level

CUSTOM USE

We'll create a custom container to fit your unique needs anywhere in the US. With our container modification expertise, we make any idea a reality. From pop-up stores to multi-story structures, our unrivaled facilities and fabrication experts do it all.

You'll get your own dedicated storage and container expert to serve as your one point of contact for easy, convenient service you can trust.
With our wide selection of intermodal containers for sale and rent, you'll find exactly what you need, from size, to type and condition.
We maintain our rental fleet to the highest standard - our integrity depends on it.
Our certified, experienced Conex container modification experts have more than 500 years combined experience modifying ISO containers.
All of our containers come with high security dual-locking system for no additional charge, so you can rest assured your stored items stay safe and that you don't have to pay extra for it.
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At our unrivaled 90,000 sq ft indoor fabrication facility, ensuring your custom shipping container is made exactly to your specifications.
With our level of service, quality and expertise, you won't find a better value anywhere else.
Our portable offices include lighting and electrical outlets, internet hookups, HVAC and were crafted by our in-house steel container fabrication experts for top-quality construction.

Premium Quality - High Security

With Southwest Mobile Storage, you get much more than a POD or typical Conex box. You also get high security, unparalleled service and unmatched container modification expertise and facilities. No other company offers that much.

Shipping containers and storage containers come in a range of sizes. The most common external lengths are 20ft and 40ft with a width of 8ft. ISO Containers are typically 8ft 6in tall, but high cube containers are 9ft 6in tall. We also have steel containers in a variety of sizes from 10ft long to 45ft long to rent or buy, and we can modify shipping containers into any size you want.

 Rent Storage Containers Highlands Ranch, CO

SMS Mobile Storage Containers have these high quality features:

1/8" thick steel plate bottom side rails
High strength steel supporting cross members
1 1/8" thick hardwood floor with galvanized self-tapping screws
16-gauge corrugated steel walls
16-gauge roof
270-degree swing cargo door(s)
High security dual-locking system*
Spot-grinded, primed & repainted with a beige high-grade water reducible alkyd direct-to-metal enamel*
* Comes standard on all rental units

SMS portable workspace containers have these structural features:

High security window bars, lever & deadbolt set with lock box
Studs & R-19 Insulation covered with wood paneling
1 1/8" marine board floor is covered with a durable single part gray epoxy coating
Dual pane low-E horizontal sliding windows with screens and miniblinds
18 Gauge steel polystyrene core 3-hour fire rated personnel door
All of our workspaces are manufactured in-house and arrive new or restored to factory specifications
Exterior load center operating on 100 Amp single phase 230 Volt power
Light switch, receptacles and 4' light fixtures; all wiring is Romex 12/2
CAT-6 voice and data lines with electrical junction box
HVAC units ranging from 1 ton to 2 ton on rentals; ability to customize up to 10 tons of cooling

Having flexible storage containers options is important, but security is crucial to protect your peace of mind and your possessions.

At Southwest Mobile Storage, we don't believe in leaving things to chance. We want you to rest easy knowing your inventory, documents, tools, equipment and other items are safe 24/7. That is why we equip SMS high-security slide bolt locking systems and lockboxes on our entire fleet of rental freight containers.

EVERY ONE OF OUR MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINERS FOR RENT IN Highlands Ranch, CO, INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY MEASURES:

High-security slide-bolt locking system and extra-long lock box, giving you twice the security and peace of mind.
No holes to ensure your rental shipping container is wind and water-tight.
No rust for your safety.
14-gauge corrugated steel for strength and reinforcement.

Contact us to speak with a helpful, friendly representative to better understand our full range of capabilities. We are happy to answer any questions you have, go over pricing and set up a time and place to deliver your Conex box. Our quotes are 100% free and you are under no obligation to pay for your consultation.

COMMERCIAL STORAGE CONTAINERS TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY IN Highlands Ranch, CO

When you own a business or manage one, it's crucial to have efficient, affordable ways to store inventory and supplies, whether it's to grow your business or adapt to changes in the market, like the many caused by the pandemic.

Renting storage containers to keep at your business eliminates the cost and hassles of sending your staff to offsite storage facilities. Steel containers with roll up doors make storing and retrieving items faster and easier. Auto repair shops and other businesses that need easy access throughout the workday to secure storage for tools, parts, equipment or supplies find renting shipping containers to be the best solution for their business storage needs. Southwest Mobile Storage has your back.

 Storage Containers For Rent Highlands Ranch, CO

Renting portable offices gives your business more workspace, breakrooms, pop up stores, security booths and more, without the cost and red tape associated with constructing building additions. Plus, a steel storage container fits neatly into one parking space and provides much stronger security than Pods and way more convenience than self-storage units.

If you have a specific need, we can modify shipping containers to build whatever you need to grow your business. Whether it's a portable workspace to run your business, like a pop-up container bar, or a durable facility for scientific research, like a container laboratory, or even a container gym, our unrivaled fabrication facility and modification experts got you covered. Our full-time, in-house staff of certified welders, engineers, electricians, carpenters and painters have over 500 years combined experience modifying thousands of container projects for just about any business use you can imagine.

WHETHER YOUR BUSINESS IS COMMERCIAL, HEALTHCARE, GOVERNMENT OR EDUCATION, OR YOUR INTEREST IS TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY SHIPPING CONTAINERS, SMS HAS YOU COVERED:

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Offsite storage alternatives cause a mess of hassles and headaches. Expanding office space and storage capacity at your location saves time, money and hassle of making multiple trips offsite.
We offer more choice in security, size and features in steel Conex boxes or ISO shipping containers than a public storage unit or Pod for less cost and far greater service.
We offer flexible, month-to-month rental agreements and prorate by the day after your first 28-day billing cycle.
With us, you get a dedicated account manager you can rely on, so you can focus on running your business than waste time with a different person every time you call that doesn't know or care as much.
While other companies may have some staff for modifying containers, most outsource the work, so you don't know who is actually doing the modifications or how much they're marking up the price.
 Mobile Storage Containers Highlands Ranch, CO
When you modify a shipping container for your business, you won't have to worry about expensive, lengthy and complicated construction.
We have modified thousands of containers nationwide and internationally for more than 25 years for NASA, US Navy, GCP Applied Technologies, Helix and Sundt to name a few. And rent containers to Amazon, Walmart and many of other nationally recognized brands.
Our extensive staff makes it possible to custom build multiple projects simultaneously and our 90,000 sq ft indoor fabrication facility prevents contaminants from interfering with fabrication, which delivers better quality and precision.

HERE'S WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE US TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY A SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR YOUR HOME:

With an extensive in-house staff and 90,000 sq ft container modification facility, we're able to deliver consistently high quality and work on multiple projects simultaneously for a fast turnaround.

Other companies don't have the facility, staff or resources to modify shipping containers and will outsource the work to various shops who may not have the special experience or tools needed to modify the right way.

You can rest assured knowing your custom container is safe in our hands. Our certified weld and quality control inspectors ensure everything is structurally sound and built to your specifications through every step of the process.

Renting a moving container from us makes your move much less stressful because you won't have to rush to pack your whole house into a moving truck in one day. Instead, you can take your time packing over the course of a month.

Our ISO shipping containers are weatherproof and come with vault-like security, so you don't have to worry about theft or damage to your belongings.

You won't get that level of security from U-Haul or other moving truck companies.

Renting a storage container at your home keeps your belongings close and gives you convenient 24/7 access, so you're always able to retrieve the contents of your container when you need to.

We know move in and move out dates don't always line up. We can store your packed rental container at our secure facility until your new home is ready.

With our mobile storage containers for rent in Highlands Ranch, CO, you can save up to 40% when compared to full-service long-distance movers, while gaining more flexibility in your schedule.

MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINERS & PORTABLE OFFICES TO RENT, BUY OR MODIFY IN Highlands Ranch, CO

We know your needs may change suddenly. With our extensive inventory and variety of sizes of portable offices and shipping containers to rent, buy or modify in Highlands Ranch, CO, we provide fast service and the best value possible so it's easy for you to get whatever you need when you need it.

Renting storage containers and portable offices from us gives you more flexibility when it comes to your schedule and options. If you don't have enough space at your current location or simply would prefer offsite storage, you can keep your rental storage and office containers at your location or ours - whichever is most convenient for you. You also get more options to choose from when it comes to size and features, like portable offices with divided rooms for private meetings or office/storage combos for storage and office space in one container. All while costing a fraction of the price of a pod or self-storage facility.

You can also buy new or used freight containers from us and choose from a variety of add-ons, including lights, electricity, doors and windows. Or fully customize a shipping container to save time, money and energy by skipping the expensive, lengthy process of constructing building additions. We can modify a Conex box into whatever you can imagine for any use you need, from construction tool cribs to office buildings, monitoring stations, mobile communication towers and much more. The possibilities are endless.

HERE'S HOW WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK:

You'll never face hidden fees or surprises with us. We give you transparent billing up front at the best prices.

With us, you get a reliable, dedicated point of contact, who keeps you updated every step of the way. You can rest assured knowing you'll always get what you need, when you need it.

No other company has the breadth and depth of staff and experience that we do when it comes to modifying shipping containers. Our certified welders, engineers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and painters have more than 500 years of combined experience in fabricating custom steel containers.

We prorate your rent by the day after the first 28-day billing cycle, so you don't have to pay for a full month when you only have your mobile containers and offices for a few days.

While other companies may be able to do small container modifications, most don't have an in-house fabrication staff or 90,000 sq ft fabrication facility like we do. As a result, they outsource the work on your custom container, so you don't know who's actually building it.

Rest assured knowing your modified shipping container will be built to the highest quality standards. Our certified weld and quality control inspectors check every step of the fabrication process to ensure everything is structurally sound and built to your specifications.

HOW RENTING A STORAGE CONTAINER AND MOBILE OFFICE WORKS

Whether you're in need of a storage container for your commercial business, a portable office for your construction site, or a moving container for your home, our process is simple and straightforward.

Choose Your Container

Choose the mobile storage solution that works best for your needs. In this step, you will let us know the number of containers you need, their sizes and what types of doors to equip.

Choose Your Options

Let us know if you would like to add any of our rental options, like a folding table or shelving.

Choose Your Security

Choose from padlocks, puck locks and other enhanced security options. All of our storage containers come standard with dual-locking, vault-like security.

Choose Your Delivery Timeframe

You can expect standard delivery within 3-5 days of your order. If you need expedited delivery, we will do everything in our power to accommodate your needs.

Pick-Up Planning

Do you need to keep your shipping container at our location? Prefer to have our team deliver your packed container to a location of your choice? Let us know, and we'll be by your side to work out the logistics.

HOW RENTING A STORAGE CONTAINER AND MOBILE OFFICE WORKS

1

DETERMINE DESTINATION

Let our team know where we should deliver your mobile storage container for rent in Highlands Ranch, CO. Be sure to let us know if there are any special conditions that might prevent our drivers from entering your chosen destination. Before you schedule your delivery, let us know which direction you would like the doors of your container to face.

2

SCHEDULE DATE & TIME

Our drivers can deliver your storage container Monday-Friday, between the hours of 6AM and 2PM local time. Our two-hour delivery window is the most precise in the industry. If you desire another delivery time outside of our standard delivery options, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. As a courtesy, our driver will call you at least 30 minutes before they arrive at your drop-off destination.

3

PREPARE FOR YOUR MOBILE STORAGE CONTAINER DELIVERY

Before we deliver your Conex box, prepare your delivery area by ensuring that there are no low overhangs, arches, wires, trees or any other obstacles that could interfere with your delivery. It's a good idea to mark the space where you would like your steel container placed.

4

DELIVERY & SETUP

When our driver arrives, they will back our truck into the space where you would like your shipping container placed. Once we arrive, we will ensure that your container is delivered safely and securely. If placed on asphalt or pavement, we will use wood dunnage pads to make sure your ground surface is protected and the container is level.

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MOBILE CONTAINERS TO Rent, Buy OR Modify IN Highlands Ranch, CO?

Check out our FAQ page or reach out to our helpful customer service team today @

303.227.3881

Latest News in Highlands Ranch, CO

Drive University/Lincoln & Quebec in Highlands Ranch? Watch for upcoming roadwork

If the intersection of University/Lincoln & Quebec is part of your daily drive through Highlands Ranch or Lone Tree, please give yourself extra time to navigate upcoming construction.On Monday, July 17, Douglas County will begin work to improve road quality and safety at the intersection. Construction activities will require reduced speeds and lane closures. Please plan for an additional 3-5 minutes on your drive and watch for crews.Using traffic count data, engineers designed the project to occur in phases to minimize the ...

If the intersection of University/Lincoln & Quebec is part of your daily drive through Highlands Ranch or Lone Tree, please give yourself extra time to navigate upcoming construction.

On Monday, July 17, Douglas County will begin work to improve road quality and safety at the intersection. Construction activities will require reduced speeds and lane closures. Please plan for an additional 3-5 minutes on your drive and watch for crews.

Using traffic count data, engineers designed the project to occur in phases to minimize the impact on the traveling public. The first phase of construction includes establishing the work zone, removing the medians along University Boulevard, Lincoln Avenue, and Quebec Street, and paving the area with asphalt.

Project improvements at the intersection are designed to improve traffic flow and better accommodate bicycles at the intersection, increasing safety and mobility in the area for all road users.

Working hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. There will be no construction work on any Douglas County observed holidays.

Please watch for crews, follow posted speed limits and do not drive distracted in the work zone.

Stay Up to Date

For more information about the upcoming work and to stay up to date on construction impacts, please visit our website.

This project is fully funded by Douglas County. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2024.

About this Project

Douglas County is improving road quality and safety at University/Lincoln and Quebec in Highlands Ranch. A project to rebuild and reconfigure the full intersection will begin in summer 2023. Work includes a new traffic signal system, raised pedestrian safety islands, additional eastbound and westbound lanes on Lincoln Avenue and University Boulevard, and a new right-turn-only lane from southbound Quebec Street to westbound University Boulevard.

Construction on this $13 million project is anticipated to begin in July 2023 and is expected to be complete in fall 2024. Douglas County thanks Douglas County Parks and Recreation, Highlands Ranch HOA and Highlands Ranch Metro District for their partnership in making this project possible.

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Troy Guard's Brunch Concept HashTAG Is Coming to Highlands Ranch This Fall

Since the pandemic, restaurateur Troy Guard's TAG Hospitality Group has gone through a lot of changes.In 2021, Guard closed his first restaurant, TAG, which had been a staple in Larimer Square since it debuted in 2009. Later that year, he also shuttered TAG Burg...

Since the pandemic, restaurateur Troy Guard's TAG Hospitality Group has gone through a lot of changes.

In 2021, Guard closed his first restaurant, TAG, which had been a staple in Larimer Square since it debuted in 2009. Later that year, he also shuttered TAG Burger Bar and a concept he'd tested out at Junction Food and Drink, Big Wave Taco. Last December, he sold Grange Hall, the food hall he'd opened in Greenwood Village just over a year earlier, to a strip club operator. And in January, he closed the recently refreshed FNG, his LoHi eatery.

But he also expanded Bubu, his fast-casual concept, as well as Los Chingones, his Latin group. Now he's doubling down on his brunch restaurant, HashTAG, with a second location set to open at 1485 Park Central Drive in Highlands Ranch this fall. The news follows an earlier announcement about plans to open an expansive HashTAG outpost complete with a 4,000-square-foot, year-round rooftop patio at 1125 17th Street in early 2024.

“We are incredibly excited to bring a HashTAG to the vibrant community of Highlands Ranch,” Guard said in announcing the news. “I have given a lot of love to the city of Denver, but I have never opened a restaurant as far south as Highlands Ranch." (Grange Hall was south, but not that south.)

HashTAG's original location debuted in Central Park in 2017; the restaurant is known as a lively brunch spot with a menu that includes chilaquiles, cast-iron cinnamon rolls, a variety of hot cakes, omelets and more.

“We’ve been focusing on the expansion of HashTAG downtown, but when the chance came about to open one in Highlands Ranch, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up, and we had to jump on it," Guard says. There are plans to add even more HashTAGs in the future, both within and potentially outside of Colorado — he already operates a location of his Denver steakhouse, Guard and Grace, in Houston.

Guard isn't alone in looking to the suburbs for expansion opportunities. In fact, he's right on trend. Local brands such as the Cherry Cricket and Denver Biscuit Company have recently opted to open locations south of town in Littleton and Centennial, respectively, while others, like Blue Pan and King of Wings, are opening outposts in Golden soon.

But Guard is also going big with HashTAG's downtown plans, a move that signals his confidence in the resurgence of business in the area — and for the city's ongoing love of boozy, midday meals.

Tornado causes widespread damage in Highlands Ranch: "I probably shouldn't have been there"

The cleanup effort in Highlands Ranch is massive: hundreds, if not thousands, of trees fell during a tornado that touched down Thursday, many falling on homes. No one was injured, as far as officials know, but the property damage was extensive.CBS News Colorado investigator Brian Maass surveyed the damage from that EF1 tornado Friday. "EF1" refers ...

The cleanup effort in Highlands Ranch is massive: hundreds, if not thousands, of trees fell during a tornado that touched down Thursday, many falling on homes. No one was injured, as far as officials know, but the property damage was extensive.

CBS News Colorado investigator Brian Maass surveyed the damage from that EF1 tornado Friday. "EF1" refers to the tornado's strength and subsequent damage; the next strongest after EF0 out of six storm strength categories.

Douglas County authorities are going street by street, mapping damage and they have issued a disaster declaration. Residents there are reeling from the disaster that ran through their neighborhoods.

RELATED: National Weather Service surveys damage from Highlands Ranch tornado

"You can see how the fence blew down when this tree blew over," said Wayne Humphrey.

Humphrey has lived in the Stoney Point subdivision for decades. A big selling point for him was the tree cover, but much of it is now gone.

"It seems like the ground was just so wet. The root balls were just unable to hold on to anything," he said.

Trees were uprooted and fell on his house. Many other massive trees had blown down around his neighborhood.

Asked how surprised he was about the depth of destruction, Humphrey replied, "it's pretty shocking actually."

RELATED: Tornado downs trees in Highlands Ranch, tree limb drop-off sites open

The nearly 100-mile-per-hour winds were so strong, they took out a brick column next door.

Half a block away, 87-year-old Ron Gerber saw the twister rip concrete shingles off his home.

"It was loud and noisy and I probably shouldn't have been there," Gerber said. "There's a round section that just kind of lifted up and it tore all the shingles away and went some other place."

That place was Maria Sopcich's home, where damage was extensive, but she says that's just property

"We're very grateful we're all healthy, we're all alive. That's the important thing," said Sopcich.

With fences down, rooves and property damaged, insurance agents and tree companies are now out in full force.

Humphrey says his community is pulling together and helping each other out, but they know all those trees, now gone, will impact the look and feel for years to come: "It's gonna change the feel and ambiance of the community."

Brian Maass

Veteran investigative reporter Brian Maass has a reputation for breaking major stories at CBS News Colorado. As part of The Investigators team, he has established a high level of trust and credibility in the community. Read his reports or check out his bio & send him an email.

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Highlands Ranch tornado tore out 16,000 trees but helped build a sense of community

“Were you home when the tornado hit? Did you have damage?”Those are the first questions people in Highlands Ranch are asking each other when meeting up nowadays, a few weeks after the wildest weather event anyone can remember experiencing in the suburb south of Denver.The next discussion is likely about how to replace what has been destroyed, mostly the trees.On that humid Thursday afternoon, Douglas County was hit by one of those wild Colorado storms that for tens of thousands of residents in Highlands Ranch...

“Were you home when the tornado hit? Did you have damage?”

Those are the first questions people in Highlands Ranch are asking each other when meeting up nowadays, a few weeks after the wildest weather event anyone can remember experiencing in the suburb south of Denver.

The next discussion is likely about how to replace what has been destroyed, mostly the trees.

On that humid Thursday afternoon, Douglas County was hit by one of those wild Colorado storms that for tens of thousands of residents in Highlands Ranch is now an indelible life moment. Thankfully, no one was hurt by the technically small (EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale) but destructive tornado on June 22. Very few actually saw the twister cloaked in sheets of rain and hail as it hit Northridge Elementary School and blasted across homes and businesses for more than 6 miles just south of C-470, from Lucent Boulevard to Quebec Street

But some doorbell cameras caught the action, like this one.

The tornado was powerful enough to destroy an estimated 16,000 mature trees along major parkways and residential yards. Douglas County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is still assessing the damage in order to request a national disaster declaration that could provide funding for repairs. Countless homeowners are in the process of filing claims with their insurance companies and finding out what is and isn’t covered.

The soundtrack of summer now includes chainsaws and wood chippers.

Beyond the expense, many are lamenting the loss of so many large trees that created shade, privacy, bird habitats and seasonal beauty. For the community to be transformed in such a striking visual way in a matter of minutes has everyone processing a sense of shock, sadness, and relief that it wasn’t worse.

“We moved here from the Midwest nine years ago and we’ve never experienced a tornado before now,” said Jennifer Smith, who sheltered in her basement with their two daughters and their pets while her husband, Matt, peered cautiously out main floor windows. “The winds were blowing in all directions,” he said. “It felt like you were inside a washing machine.

Luckily, the couple didn’t lose any of their own trees, but said a large aspen across the street was knocked over. They spent July 1 making trips to the Eastridge Recreation Center parking lot to shovel fresh mulch into buckets and cardboard boxes for xeriscaping their yard. Mountains of chipped trees are piled up in several locations around town, including near the post office on Quebec and University. Residents are being encouraged to take as much as they would like.

“We also took one of those large stumps for the garden,” Smith said pointing to a pile of pine trees that had been sliced into sections like large souvenirs, each revealing inner rings numbering more than 30. And the air around Highlands Ranch is perfumed with the pungent smell of pine sap.

Longtime local plant nursery The Gardens has been doing brisk business since the storm. Staffer Kate Kator was at work when the tornado warning blared on the smartphones of everyone inside the store. Some customers rushed to their cars and drove home, while others chose to wait it out with the employees. Kator says within 10 minutes, dark clouds were overhead soon followed by rain and hail blasting in first from west to east, then from east to west.

“One of our gazebos flew up into the trees and portions of the greenhouse and main store roofs were torn off,” she said. “Some of our fencing blew over and the greenhouse flooded.”

A large Scotch Pine just outside their gate blew down, but the next day they were able to prop it back up into place because the rootball was intact. “We’re advising our customers that phosphorous can help trees re-root, and nitrogen will help them grow. A lot of people are coming in asking for replacement trees. We don’t sell large trees, and right now we are just getting in small shrubs that we ordered weeks ago.

“People are buying annuals to replace the flowers they lost, but a lot of people are sad about their shade trees. One customer did say she’s gained a lot of extra space in her yard for the kids to play in now.”

A few years ago, the Colorado State Forest Service came out with recommendations for homeowners along the Front Range who want fast-growing trees.

The blue spruce was listed high up, along with silver maples, white oak varietals and catalpa trees, which are known for their white fragrant flower clusters and heart-shaped leaves. These could become the next generation of popular trees in Highlands Ranch.

“This storm affected more of our evergreen trees than the deciduous varieties,” noted Kator. “Those had broken branches, but the evergreens have more shallow roots and were uprooted by the winds. In Highlands Ranch, we have hard-packed soil once you get past the layer of clay, so it’s hard for roots to go deep.”

Kator said people can plant trees between March and October in Colorado as long as they are well watered for the first couple weeks to get them established. She expects the demand to be extremely high for trees like the flowering crabapples.

Kator noted The Gardens owners Steve and Michelle Smith opened their business in 1997 when Highlands Ranch had many fewer (and smaller) trees. Newcomers don’t know there was a time when the now-mature trees along the greenbelts, parks and subdivisions in the community were just saplings.

Gary Debus served as community manager of Highlands Ranch for 20 years starting in 1991. He recalls the rolling grasslands, where pronghorn and prairie dogs lived. “When Highlands Ranch began in 1981 with the first house, there were very few trees and those that were on the Ranch were native types along with some small native shrubs. Grasslands covered most of the development area.”

Debus said, “Landscape architects developed the parkway plantings and commercial areas that added aesthetics. As new homes were built and sold, homeowners started completing their own landscapes. It was very easy to tell where the newest areas were. Critics dubbed us a ‘sea of rooftops.’ But Highlands Ranch was soon designated a Tree City USA.”

Charla Kelly specializes in helping people buy and sell homes here. She lives close to the community’s original Mansion, which lost numerous large trees in the storm. She said it’s sad, but people have been outside talking with each other more.

“Neighbors have been helping each other,” she said. “People with trucks have been transporting branches to the drop-off sites.”

Kelly hopes those looking to plant new trees in their yards will remember to contact Colorado 811 before doing any digging and potentially hitting buried power lines. It’s the reason no one lost power during the storm, but it’s easy to forget that and start shoveling. Homeowners can go online to request their lines be located and flagged at https://www.colorado811.org/ or just call 811.

Dave and Laura Mutton have lived in their Highlands Ranch home for 21 years. They lost a tree that was planted by the previous owners but had grown to have special meaning for their family. This was the tree where they took annual back-to-school photos of their children from kindergarten through 12th grade. The kids are now out of the nest, and the tree that appears in so many cherished photos is also gone. Their daughter, Julia, was the one who mentioned the photos that feature her and her brother Andrew smiling and hanging on to a limb, even hugging the tree that was like part of their family as they themselves grew each year.

That kind of tree can never be replaced.

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Douglas County declares disaster following Highlands Ranch tornado

Declaration opens the door for state support; Several sites open for tree debris drop-offTo our Highlands Ranch community – you are not alone. As you clean up after Thursday’s storm, you likely have questions. Please read on for what we know now.“We’re counting our blessings that there were no reported injuries nor deaths from Thursday’s storm. However, there was significant damage and debris,” said Commissioner Lora Thomas. “We’re working in partnership with the Sheriff’s O...

Declaration opens the door for state support; Several sites open for tree debris drop-off

To our Highlands Ranch community – you are not alone. As you clean up after Thursday’s storm, you likely have questions. Please read on for what we know now.

“We’re counting our blessings that there were no reported injuries nor deaths from Thursday’s storm. However, there was significant damage and debris,” said Commissioner Lora Thomas. “We’re working in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, Highlands Ranch Metro District and the Highlands Ranch Community Association to help everyone affected.”

“The County has issued a disaster declaration to open the door for state support,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon. “In the meantime, we are working with the Highlands Ranch community to provide tree debris drop-off sites.”

Tree Debris Cleanup Douglas County crews are working to clean up tree debris that is causing safety hazards along the sidewalk and in the roadway, starting with the hardest hit area, which is between Highlands Ranch Parkway and C-470 and from Broadway to Colorado.

Crews are also evaluating every street in Highlands Ranch to map damage, which will help inform the crews’ efforts. If you need to report a damaged traffic sign, you can do so online.

For those who have tree debris on their private property, there are two drop off sites available in Highlands Ranch – and more will be planned as needed. You can drop off anything that can be turned into mulch, such as tree branches or brush. Please do not bring fences nor root balls. This service is for Douglas County homeowners, not contractors. Anything larger than a typical trashcan load should go to these sites:

“We want our community to know that our crews are going street-by-street to evaluate the damage and prioritize recovery efforts,” said Commissioner George Teal. “We know cleaning up after this storm will be a shared responsibility among public entities and our individual homeowners.”

“Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in the tornado that hit Highlands Ranch yesterday, but our community experienced quite a bit of damage,” said Highlands Ranch Metro District General Manager Stephanie Stanley. “Our staff and our partners are assessing the damage and our crews are coordinating repairs in our parks, along trails, and parkways along major roads. If people see a problem on public property, please report it through the Report a Concern link at www.highlandsranch.org. Updated resources and information are available at highlandsranch.org/stormdamage.”

“The HRCA’s residents are our top priority everyday, especially during a crisis like this. We are working with Douglas County and the Metro District in partnership to provide resources to residents for debris removal and covenant concerns. We are working to keep our website, HRCAonline.org, up to date as the best resource for the latest information,” said Mike Bailey, General Manager of the Highlands Ranch Community Association.

For current information and resources, visit HighlandsRanch.org/StormDamage. Additional updates will be provided as they are known.

For private property post-storm cleanup tips and information, read this information from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

Please contact homeowners’ insurance for damage on your property. Please only call the Sheriff’s Office if you are experiencing an emergency.

“Our deputies and emergency personnel responded to this disaster with compassion and professionalism,” said Douglas County Undersheriff Dave Walcher. “They worked through the night to direct traffic, provide information, and clear roadways. The recovery phase has begun, and we’re working closely with the county and other agencies to provide support and resources.”

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