LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — An EF-0 tornado touched down in Lake County on Saturday, causing damage to several homes, the National Weather Center confirmed Monday.
NWS officials surveyed damage in Okahumpka near Leesburg, where the storm tore roofs off mobile homes, took down a large oak tree and caused other damage.
They say the storm had peak winds of 65-75 mph, and moved along a 2.31-mile path.
One resident said she was glad her neighbor was okay after wind blew him down while he was standing in his carport.
According to Lake County officials, one man was hurt when a tree limb came through his roof but he’s expected to be okay. Roger Smith was home at the time of the storm and he says he heard what sounded like a rifle before a tree came down.
“(It) just started blowing all that stuff down,” Smith said. “Blowing stuff into my yard and coming across the street, like these tree limbs. I watched it come from trees on the other side of the road.
“(I’m) surprised traffic didn’t stop. I mean, it was a whole pile of stuff coming from the road over here also,” Smith continued.
Meanwhile, in Volusia County, another possible tornado may have touched town in DeLand, causing significant damage. NWS officials are heading their next to survey the damage and make a determination.
At the Veterans of Foreign Wars building in DeLand, a flag pole was knocked down, and its roof was blown off.
According to Commander Damon Cutlip, the building still has no power and are running generators to try to save food in refrigerators.
Cutlip says it will cost around $40,00 to get a new roof.
by Krystel Knowles and Matt Fernandez (2020, Jan 5 | Updated 2020 Jan 6) Spectrum News 13
