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.

[mewzilla]

Thanks for the report! Take care.

And if folks don't have one already, those NOAA weather radios with SAME technology really are a good investment. They're also capable of being set up to alert folks with hearing and/or vision impairments. CNN's Chad Myers has been really good about getting that info out. Folks should heed it.

[tillacum]

Thank you proud. I'm grateful for the information.

[tillacum]

Yesterday in Waco, the rain felt like sleet, then turned to just cold rain.

[lifacs]

She is still without power and has her cellphone out in the car charging. She doesn't have much info. I haven't heard anything about Water Oaks or Spanish Springs (town square) having damage.

I've heard Mallory Square, Mallory Hills (country club), Oak Grove, Lady Lake Mobile Home park, Sunshine Mobile Home park, Spencer Lane Area and Lady Lake Church of God. Major roads with debris problems are 441/27 and 42. This is from WESH2 earlier this morning. I haven't heard them mention any neighborhoods recently, they are now talking about other communities, Paisley & Deland.

WESH2 FOX35

[STARWISE]

This is just horrible damage .. dear Lord. God bless all those suffering. I'm stunned at the deaths, but seeing the devastation .. it's clear it really could've been so much worse. To be asleep at 3am and have that at your door .. I can't imagine how terrifying.

I lost it all in Andrew in a CBS dwelling .. across from 4 mobile home communities, all flattened, with all the sheet metal piercing everything.

Mobile homes after Andrew.

Church member Debbie Brown finds a bible in the rubble from the Lady Lake Church of God in Lady Lake, Fla., after a severe storm devastated the area. A church was destroyed and several deaths were reported.

The rubble of Lady Lake Church of God

At The Villages

I'm so glad I got out of Florida. Prayers lifted for all. It's so tough to rise from the ashes.

[SuzanneC]

Hi bigcheese,

My cousin lives in Deland on Stonington Way in a development just off I-4. How does that area fair?

[girlangler]

Thanks. I'm going to go to those local links you provided.

Mutual friends in Atlanta are also trying to reach our friends in the Villages and Lady Lake, but that ain't gonna happen any time soon, as the power is out.

My real concern is for the couple in Lady Lakes. They live in a nice mobile home park there inhabited by mostly retirees. They moved there because they like to fish (all the lakes nearby) and golf.

[bpop]

FNC is worse than useless!

I hate CNN political shows, but they are essential at times like these-at least their maps are accurate and they use local stations that gather reasonably accurate facts.

I have been trying to call my mother in Vero-no luck yet. I hope that if she's out she has heard of the alerts.

[bigcheese]

I honestly don't know. The worst is West of me, and that is SE of me netween Dr. MLK and I-4 (had to google it). If it is one of the new sub divisions that I am thinking of, I can tell you I haven't seen emergency vehicles going that direction. But that is not far from where the dunkin donuts/ police sub station was hit.

If googling it, about 4 blocks south of Woodland (17-92) and Beresford on 17-92 is the place hit in DeLand proper.

It is just that somwhere the dang thing crossed I-4 heading east and they said it was on the ground all the way to New Smryna. Where that is at, I cannot tell you.

[Bob Ireland]

We did ok here in west Orlando; the rain woke me up with its ferocity, but no damage from wind or rain.

In fact, I had gotten on the roof yesterday morning to reinforce a suspicious area and finally discovered the leak that has been flooding my dining room for almost a year... patched it with fibered roof cement and this morning found the dining room dry after all that driving rain. I am elated... I guess out of character with all the tragedy round about... but I am very pleased for my part.

Prayers for all who have problems to cope with. /:-|

[lifacs]

Lake County says damage from Highway 301 to the Western Shore of Lake Griffin. He said 20 square miles and thousands of homes affected.

[STARWISE]

A street in The Villages ...

Continuing prayers for all affected.

[NonValueAdded]

NEW TORNADO WARNING INDIAN RIVER COUNTY south of Vero Beach. Band of storms continues to move further south as they sweep across the Florida peninsula.

[Proudcongal]

I'm here in Jacksonville. Prayers for my neighbors in the Daytona/Smyrna Beach area and other areas in central Florida hit by the storms.

[cgk]

Oh my...

[STARWISE]

Oh no .. I thought they were already off the coast .. new one?

[STARWISE]

Local TV station coverage

http://www.wftv.com/index.html

[NonValueAdded]

Yes, they also just issued the Special Marine Warning. I suspect this will be the norm for the rest of the day. Must be a front moving south and the storms will boil up all day, running west to east along it.

[MarineMom613]

Any info on Vero Beach would be appreciated. My sister is there and she was in Walmart earlier and came out and heard about a tornado but can't get in touch with her daughter and grandkids.
Thanks.

[NonValueAdded]

Will monitor. See NWS Melbourne