Homes damaged as likely tornado hits Florida

Storm survey teams from the National Weather Service were expected to tour areas of West Broward in southern Florida Wednesday, after reports that a possible tornado touched down Tuesday night.

Residents in one Sunrise neighborhood were waking up to debris-strewn lawns after the storm hit shortly after 10 p.m. in the area of Northwest 8th Street and 133rd Avenue, according to fire department officials.

Officials said between 16 and 20 homes were damaged or destroyed in the area, and residents said one house was knocked to the ground. Trees were uprooted, roofs ripped off homes and at least a couple people suffered minor injuries.

"The tornado just went right through, right through the house. It's basically knocked down everywhere," said Alec Katz. "People's fences are on top of roofs, everything, It's crazy."

The National Weather Service had extended a tornado watch for Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties until 6 a.m. Wednesday, and will be surveying to determine whether a tornado did in fact touch down.

Residents said even if it wasn't a tornado, it sure felt like one.

"It lasted about 30 to 40 seconds, it was really, really strong and it sounded like a train heading into ... the side of the house," said resident Ivan Burgos. "Cars are all over the place, landscaping's all torn up, there's one house that's almost completely demolished."

Sunrise Fire Rescue's Jim Dixon said the storm affected an area of about a quarter of a mile, inflicting severe structural damage on at least six homes and displacing some residents.

"Luckily, as bad as this could have been, we've had no serious injuries, everyone seems to have gotten out safely," Dixon said.

Most of the displaced residents had somewhere else to go, but the Red Cross was at the scene to assist, Dixon said.

One of those displaced was a 70-year-old man who had the roof of his house completely torn off.

Neighbors said the man had just sat down to dinner when the storm rolled through.

"Everything started blowing up, the lights went off and it was a little scary," said Ameen Kader, who lives next door to the man. "I ran to the house, he was ok, but look at the roof, there's nothing left on the house, just the frame."

Kader said the man was fine and was staying with friends.

In Plantation, police at a command post in the area said a trailer park at Broward Boulevard and Commodore Drive was hit hard by the storm.

"There are police everywhere and firemen knocking on people's doors," said Munica Herron, who lives across the street from the trailer park. "There are trailers that are caved in and blown out windows."

South Florida has been dealing with rain since Sunday, and it's expected to continue until the end of the week.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44960856/ns/weather/

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