A weekend Florida tornado around Cape Coral caused damage to residences and businesses over a 12- square-mile area but no serious injuries.
Advertisement
According to the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay office, the tornado caused damage to 178 structures and destroyed one home. It’s believed that power won’t be fully restored until later Monday.
The area affected is to the north, Cape Coral Parkway to the south, Pelican Boulevard to the east, and Sands Boulevard to the west. Vehicular access to this area was limited due to downed power lines and Oasis Middle School was open as a reception center with Red Cross support.
At least three sections of Cape Coral are closed and inspectors are assessing the Cape’s roadways, according to reports.
Kelly Anderson told the Fort Myers News Press she hid in the bathroom and came out to find windows and doors strewn across her living room. “Within minutes everything let loose”.
She went on to describe some of the damage she saw after she was able to leave her home when the winds subsided. She said a truck flew from the driveway to the backyard and a boat landed on top of it.
Another resident, Rick Koch, described the moment the tornado hit his home.
‘I have not seen wind like that, I mean the wind had to be going in excess of sixty miles an hour to do what it did to those palms, ‘ David and Justin Ezell told ABC 7. “I heard glass behind me shattering everywhere”, she said.
‘The dogs were insane and we just grabbed them, ‘ he said of the tornado. This you don’t have much notice’.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, the city is warning against residents using unlicensed contractors as they work to rebuild in the storm’s aftermath.
