VERO BEACH, Fla. — Emergency crews in Indian River County are scouring through at least 30 homes that were damaged after a tornado reportedly touched down on Monday.
Sheriff's officials said some residents weren’t home at the time, and no one was injured.
Sheriff Deryl Loar said the twister touched down around 11:30 a.m. and swept across the western part of the county near Vero Beach, creating a mile long path of destruction.
Resident Joyce Marraccini was sitting on her bed going through paperwork and watching a movie when she said her home was struck.
“All that I know was that I was sitting there and my door flew right past me, and my car is underneath the porch. I just have a huge mess,” she said.
Marraccini said she didn't hear the tornado coming. She was among dozens of people in the Vero Palms Estates picking up debris and gathering belongings in the wake of the storm.
“Where I was sitting, God was looking after me because for as much glass that blew and everything that went, I didn’t get touched by one thing,” Marraccini added.
Loar said authorities went door to door in three mobile home communities to make sure all residents were accounted for. He said many of the homes were vacant because they are primarily used as winter vacation homes.
“It’s clearly a miracle that we do not have any fatalities with the massive and extensive damage,” Loar said.
Many of the homes are uninhabitable. Shelters were set up and tarps are being distributed.
WFTV
