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.
