Deaths reported in powerful Florida storms

CNN ^ | February 2, 2007

[Strategerist]

LADY LAKE, Florida (CNN) -- Deadly storms swept across central Florida on Friday morning, damaging homes, toppling trees and sending trucks careening off Interstate 4, police said.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said there were "several" fatalities in Lady Lake, where at least two mobile home parks were hit. Authorities could not say how many deaths there were.

[cgk]

Prayers up!

[mystery-ak]

I live in central Il and this is just a way of life for us here in the spring and summer....I have seen many tornadoes, but luckily never have had any damage.

[Strategerist]

It still matters a lot what sort of building one is in - the VAST majority of tornadoes are F0-F2.

The reason tornadoes "seem" to target trailer parks is that the F1s and such are only doing serious damage in trailer parks - and a lot of "trailer park tornadoes" that do pretty visually spectacular damage are actually straight line winds or microbursts.

And your chance of dying in a trailer rolling along the ground is a lot higher than in a brick house that loses a roof.

[tiredoflaundry]

Thank you.

[cgk]

When they hit, it's only by the grace of God that one survives.

That is exactly why they scare me!

[mcmuffin]

Hi Guen!
North Brevard unscathed!

A good rain without the damage.
FRegards!

[NonValueAdded]

Probably the "manufactured home" variant that are treated the same as mobile homes when it comes to evac orders. IIRC, after the Kissimmee tornado of the late 90's, mobile / mfg'd home parks are required to have a central shelter facility. Most places have a concrete block rec center anyway. That's only good if there is a warning, though. Realistically, if the area is under a tornado watch, then you do a community sing (or sleep) and consider it the small price you pay for the lifestyle you chose to live.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Dear Lord... it sounds like Andrew all over again.

[defconw]

True, but having seen two story brick houses down to their foundations gives me no comfort that a structure will protect you. It won't. I spent 3 weeks in 1984 cleaning up from tornadoes and they were very indiscriminate in what they hit.

On another note, no matter what you say on FR these days, someone will disagree.

[Guenevere]

Thanks for checking in!
Glad you're safe!

[cgk]

I was thinking that too. I hope they're making it sound worse than it is - they're making it sound very bad.

Tornadoes overnight caused extensive damage across Central Florida:

AREA 1: LADY LAKE, Lake County -- Extensive damage reported in Lady Lake area. Reports of homes destroyed and damage to at least one church.

AREA 2: LEESBURG, Lake County -- Damage to homes reported in the Leesburg area.

AREA 3: INTERSTATE 4, Volusia County -- Interstate 4 initially closed in both directions by an accident involving 5 semi-trucks and two other vehicles. Injuries are reported.

AREA 4: DELAND, Volusia County -- Damage to homes reported in the DeLand area, especially along the Ridgewood Avenue section. A shopping plaza and Sheriff's office also has damage. DeLand Middle School, Southwestern Middle School and Starke Elementary are closed today.

AREA 5: ORANGE CITY, Volusia County -- Wind damage reported along U.S. 17-92 in Orange City, with billboards down and cars damaged.

AREA 6: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Volusia County -- Damage to homes reported in the city near U.S. 1. Reports of some roofs being blown off some homes.

ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA: About 20,000 Progress Energy customers are without power, mostly in the Marion, Lake and Volusia County areas.

Feb. 2, 2007

[Guenevere]

...also Non Value Added, Leni and oldngray have checked in as well!

[WV Mountain Mama]

Yep!!

And of course in my nightmare, one of my kids is always missing and I am screaming. I wake up crying, can't go to sleep... I can't imagine if it were real.

More prayers for families trying to get in touch with loved ones and waiting for word. Just terrible.

[defconw]

They scare me too. It's not like a hurricane where you know it's coming. They just pop up and being in the Mid West I have heard the sirens, but hearing a siren does not mean there is time to get out of the way. The question is always "where to?". It's a crap shoot.

[CFC__VRWC]

The problem is, many of these mobile home parks that take such a horrific beating in these storms are old places, with homes built in the 50's, 60's and 70's that were essentially RVs with the wheels taken off - flimsy things with puny wood frames covered by sheet aluminum, aluminum wiring and no anchors.

And if you think they do poorly in storms, you ought to see what happens to them when that aluminum wiring overheats and a fire breaks out. They go up so fast that unless you're away from home when the fire starts, chances are you won't survive.

More modern mobile homes are much more solidly built, and all new mobile home construction has required hurricane anchors for some time. But you still have these crappy old things everywhere, mostly lived in by poor people, who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford their own home. So, getting them out of these deathtraps won't be easy.

[Guenevere]

I hope they're making it sound worse than it is

We know the media can hype anything....

..but if you see the pictures, you know they're not exaggerating!

Total devastation.

[dforest]

I don't think seniors and the less well to do are resposible for all the crime out there. A lot of these people lived in nice houses down there. Schools and churches were leveled. My aunt lives in Lady Lakes. Crime is committed by people who come from all financial levels.

[mcmuffin]

Thanks for the updates, Guen.

p.s. Great minds DO think alike!... (Duncan Hunter for President....2008!)

[Howlin]

I was just looking for YOU! Are all "our" people accounted for??

Where exactly was this, Guennie!

[cgk]

Nancy England comforts Richard Cox after their church, The Lady Lake Church of God, was destroyed by a tornado early today.

Storm damage in western Volusia County.