Another TORNADO hits Central Florida

Princess-Kaveshla

LADY LAKE, Fla. -- At least 14 deaths are blamed on severe thunderstorms that pounded central Florida overnight.

At least one tornado ripped through the region.

The storm destroyed mobile homes, lifted a tractor-trailer in the air and left debris clinging to tree branches. Some homes are off their foundations. One church with a steel structure has been flattened.
Power lines are down, and outages have been reported.

A Lake County spokesman says 11 deaths are reported in the town of Paisley, and three in Lady Lake.

A line of severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes ripped through Central Florida before dawn Friday morning, destroying more than 100 homes and causing at least two deaths.

Officials in Lake County said there were several fatalities in Lady Lake. Emergency managers have called for a massive search and rescue effort following the storms, and they're asking for help from surrounding counties.

"This area of Lady Lake has been hit very hard by a confirmed tornado," Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Christie Mysinger told WKMG-TV. "The city of Lady Lake is in a state of emergency as declared by its mayor. And also, the county is in a state of emergency."

Heather Danehower of the Marion County Sheriff's Office, which is sending personnel to help, told WKMG-TV that 500 homes were damaged and 30 people were transported to hospitals from The Villages community, which spans Marion, Lake and Sumter counties.

Dozens of mobile homes near Lady Lake have been destroyed. Chairs, beds and clothes are strewn about yards, and debris hangs from trees. Some homes were tossed from their foundations, while others had their roofs ripped off.

The Lady Lake Church of God was demolished in the storm, its pews, altar and Bibles left in a jumbled, leveled mess. By daybreak, parishioners had gathered on the lot where the church once stood.

Volusia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Brandon Haught said there was extensive damage in the DeLand area because of multiple tornadoes, and multiple people were trapped across the city.

Several New Smyrna Beach subdivisions report extensive damage. The area around Turnbull Bay and New Smyrna Beach Airport was heavily damaged.

At least five crashes took place within a quarter-mile of each other near Interstate 4's New Smyrna Beach exit. The highway was closed for about three hours.

Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Miller said the most serious incident was when a semitrailer was lifted up and landed on another semi, pinning the driver in his cab. The driver didn't suffer life-threatening injuries.

Officials have opened a shelter at "Babe" James Community Center in New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County. The state Emergency Operations Center has been activated and Gov. Charlie Crist was expected to tour the area Friday.

Progress Energy said 20,000 of its customers had lost electricity, but crews were already in the field working to restore the power.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Orange County and Seminole County Friday morning.

About 3:15 a.m., radar showed rotation early Friday morning in Oviedo and in several Volusia County cities.

www.wesh.com
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Mowgli : "Use the Zorce Princess Kaveshla!"...
Prayer works. Just do it.

Princess-Kaveshla · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:16 am Post subject:

Lake County:

* Progress Energy reports 20,000 people were without power early Friday morning.
* Schools are open in Lake County on Friday except for the Villages Elementary School.
* 60 to 100 homes were damaged in Mallory Hill in The Villages.
* Trees and concrete walls are down and people are wandering the streets in Summerfield. Some houses are missing roofs.
* Offiicials are reporting 14 fatalities.
* A shelter is opening at North Lake Presbyterian Church. The address is 975 Rolling Acres Road.

Marion County & Sumter County:

* Progress Energy reported 20,000 people were without power early Friday morning.
* Fire and rescue reported an oak tree fell on a mobile home in Anthony around 12:45 Friday morning. A 44-year-old woman was in the bed when the tree came down on top of her and she was trapped. Fire and rescue crews were able to get her out and transport the woman to Shands Hospital.
* 500 homes have been damaged.
* Schools are open in Sumter County on Friday.
* A temporary staging area is open at Laurel Manor Drive.
* A long-term shelter is open at the Villages High School and Wildwood Community Center.
* Three dozen citizens have reported injuries.
* 300 to 500 homes in The Villages of Sumter County, The Villages of Mallory Square, The Villages of Sabal Chase, The Villages of Poinciana and The Villages of Carolina have sustained moderate to significant damage.

Volusia County:

* According to Progress Energy, four transmission lines are out in Deltona. About 5,300 customers are without power.
* Schools are open except for DeLand Middle, Southwestern Middle, Starke Elementary and Deltona Lakes Elementary in Volusia County on Friday.
* All lanes of Interstate 4 are reopened. A ramp is closed from State Road 44 to Interstate 4 west.
* Daytona Beach Community College West Campus is closed.
* Several New Smyrna Beach subdivisions reported extensive damage. The area around Turnbull Bay and New Smyrna Beach Airport was heavily damaged. There are also reports of damage in the areas of Hawthorne Hills, Lake Beresford and Hontoon Island.
* New Smyrna Beach Citizen's Information Lines have been opened: 424-2113 or 424-2114.
* Volusia County Citizen's Information Line: 866-345-0345.
* US-1 is closed from Nova in Port Orange to Industrial in New Smyrna Beach.
* Volusia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Brandon Haught said there was extensive damage in the DeLand area because of multiple tornadoes, and multiple people were trapped across the city.
* Debris and tree limbs are littering the road along U.S. Highway 17-92 in DeLand.
* Shelter opening at "Babe" James Community Center in New Smyrna Beach. The address is 201 North Myrtle St.

taken from: www.wesh.com
_________________
Mowgli : "Use the Zorce Princess Kaveshla!"...
Prayer works. Just do it.