'It's all gone': Largo residents cleaning up after tornado rips through neighborhoods
Share this @internewscast.com

LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — Claudia Hobbs heard the thunder and went outside to roll up the windows on her car. She lives in Pinebrook Estates in Largo.

“I noticed it sounded like there was a plane,” Hobbs said.

About five minutes north in Ranchero Village, Linda McGee had just finished dinner.

“It really started to move like someone was shaking a rag doll,” McGee said.

Both women encountered an EF-1 tornado. According to the National Weather Service, its winds peaked at 90 mph and it persisted for around 8 minutes. However, to Hobbs, it seemed to linger a bit longer.

“Probably for 10-15 minutes things were just scary,” Hobbs said.

During the tornado’s northern path, it lifted a house from its foundation. Just a street away, the storm tore the roof off McGee’s house, tossed her carport onto her vehicle, and stripped her lanai. McGee remained inside throughout, sheltering in the bathroom.

“We just wanted to live through,” McGee said.

They started cleaning up Thursday, and options are limited for McGee.

“It’s all gone,” McGee said. “We don’t know.”

As community members assisted in removing a tree from Hobbs’ patio and tarps were placed over other damaged roofs in the area, she reflected on how this storm has put things into perspective.

“We had two hurricanes in a row last year; we didn’t lose that many limbs. No, this is probably the worst that we’ve had, a tornado,” Hobbs said. “It makes you think and realize where we live and we have to be prepared.”

Largo Fire Rescue said 40 to 50 homes in Ranchero Village had damage ranging from minor to severe. Anyone needing assistance can call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Job Hunt Anxiety Skyrockets: New Survey Reveals Growing American Concerns

(The Hill) — A growing number of Americans are expressing anxiety about…

Retail Theft Scandal: Man on Pretrial Release Faces New Charges, Police Report Reveals

CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA) — A man found himself in deeper legal trouble…

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Releases Detailed Statement on Recent Officer-Involved Shooting

TOOMBS COUNTY, Ga. — An officer-involved shooting in Vidalia is currently under…

82-Year-Old Poised to Become Oldest Individual to Ascend to Mt. Everest Base Camp

In an inspiring display of endurance and determination, 82-year-old David McClung from…

Fisher Baseball Star Scores Grand Slam: Wins Exclusive World Series Experience!

FISHER, Ill. (WCIA) — Fisher High School freshman and standout baseball player…

Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Ambitious Expansion: Transforming Cancer Care in the Region

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — Sarah Bush Lincoln has unveiled plans to expand…

Amazon Cloud Outage Causes Major Disruptions for Snapchat, Robinhood, and More

Amazon announced that its cloud computing division was bouncing back from a…

FBI Investigates Suspicious Hunting Stand Overlooking Air Force One in Palm Beach

The FBI has launched an investigation into a hunting stand discovered within…

US Navy Conducts Strategic Strike on Suspected Drug-Trafficking Vessel, Pete Hegseth Reports

In a recent announcement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the United…

Manhunt Underway: JCPD Seeks Suspect in Waffle House Shooting Incident

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Authorities in Johnson City are intensifying their search…

High-Speed Motorcycle Pursuit in North Augusta Concludes with Fatal Crash

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – A high-speed pursuit on Edgefield Road in North…

Longboat Key Considers New Name for Iconic Gulf of Mexico Drive

LONGBOAT KEY, Fla. (WFLA) — A pivotal decision may be on the…