Floridians, Is it as bad as the news makes it to be?

[Jerry]

We hope you are okay.
Living in a state (CA) that has it's share of disasters we know that the news reports can make things look a lot worse than they are.  We hope that is the case in Florida.

Tell us how you are.

[GAJen]

Gosh me too. I have spent a few hours watching the news it looks awful. We had over 2 inches of rain and wind last night but I think ours is over. Sure hope you guys in that area are ok.

[El Jefe]

Well I live in Northern Florida, So it was not as bad for us, We had Tornado watches and our power went out several times last night (came back on around midnight) Lots of water dumped on us in a short period. To the South it looks as though a tornado touched down and as many as 14 people were killed 7 confirmed evidently. Craig lives down in that area I hope he is Okay. Andy

[Craig]

Nothing here but a little rain....I'm in southwest FL.

[Jerry]

I Heard from a cousin in Palm City, she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about.

[Esther]

The Villages was hit and we have friends living there. I emailed them but haven't heard. Then we know a couple and a widow lady who winters in Lady Lake. I tried to call a relative and noone was home. There is a JBer who lives near DeLand and we haven't seen her on the forum or been able to talk to her either.

[PondmaninAL]

My wife and I live north of The Villages. We only had a few small branches down here. They had found fourteen dead in The Villages and Lady Lake. They were informing people that no one was allowed in Lady Lake this morning. There was a mobile home park in Lady Lake destroyed and a small community in The Villages where houses were either destroyed or had the roof blown off. Today at noon, they weren't confirming that it was a tornado but I know that straight line winds don't do that much damage.

Scott

[Kittyzee]

Yes, it IS as bad as they said.  My step mother lives in Ladylake, and one of the fatalities was just down the street from her.  My SM's mobile home is still intact, but the Florida room was ripped off as was the carport, the car dinged up, skirting ripped off and siding gone from 2 sides of the house.  But she is fine, although very shaken up.  There were 3 large trees beside her home that were ripped from the ground and they flew in the opposite direction of the house, and didn't land on anything but an  empty lot.  Many homes were leveled, not just mobile homes, and that stinkin' tornado hit at around 3:00 a.m.,,,NOT a good time for a horrible storm like that.   

[CT]

I'm glad your step mother is ok. Things can be replaced. We live in the middle of tornado alley and they still scare the heck out of me. I'm a nervous wreck until tornado season is over every year.

[GAJen]

Last I heard death toll was over 20.  :'(

[Esther]

We have since learned that all our friends are OK. The JBer had several large trees go down but otherwise they are OK>