Local

NWS determines Ocala damage was caused by tornado

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A tornado touched down in an area of north Florida where dozens of homes were damaged by wind and failing trees.

National Weather Service officials on Tuesday said the storm was an EF1 tornado. That type of tornado typically has wind gusts between 86 and 109 miles per hour.

Residents hunkered down for Monday's severe weather in Marion County.

National Weather Service officials were in Ocala Tuesday to assess the damage.


Slideshow: Storms damage Ocala homes

Raw: Skywitness 9 HD over damageFamily describes storm


Several homes suffered major damage as sthe tornado rolled through central Florida on Monday.

The strong storms are being blamed for major damage caused to homes in the Oak Run and Palm Cay subdivisions due to falling tree limbs and branches.

Roger Salvagin was on his back porch when he saw a giant tree come down on top of his neighbor's home.

"It sounded like…you ever hear a locomotive come down the rail? That's what it sounded like coming down," said Salvagin.

His neighbor was in the front bedroom when the tornado split the home in half.

Witnesses said the tree was like a cap on top of the home that had to be cut to get her out.

"I walked through to the kitchen and saw the back porch was gone," resident Lori Roberts said.

She and her husband, Danny Roberts, showed Channel 9's Angela Jacobs a downed 30-foot tree that ripped off their back porch, leaving them looking for someplace else to spend the night.

"Is there any doubt in your mind it was a tornado?" Jacobs asked Roberts.

"Oh, no. I was closing this window right here (when) all of sudden all the screens, the house, everything. You could feel a vacuum," he said. "Everything was going out the window."

A short distance away Bill Hilty was riding out the rough weather.

"The wind was actually blowing straight across. (It was) pretty violent," Hilty said. "(There was) a lot of damage -- roofs off, windows broke. Just been some crazy stuff -- siding tore off, shingles missing," Hilty said.

Marion County Fire Department officials said 55 homes were damaged and 10 of those are uninhabitable.

Officials from the fire department and city code enforcement will assess the seriously damaged homes to see if they can be salvaged.

Despite the damage, residents are resting easier knowing the bad weather has moved on. They said they are grateful no one was injured.

"Just lucky. We'll all be able to sleep tonight," Hilty said.

Weather on Tuesday is expected to be much nicer with some rain in parts of central Florida. No strong storms are expected.