Tornado Wreaks Havoc On Senior Community as Hurricane Strikes

A tornado caused devastating destruction in a senior community in St. Lucie County, Florida, as Hurricane Milton raged through the region.

At a Glance

Hurricane Milton downgraded from Category 3 to Category 1 as it moved through Florida.
St. Lucie County severely impacted, with fatalities reported.
Over 130 tornado warnings issued due to hurricane-triggered storms.
Emergency response includes National Guard and coordinated federal support.
Governor DeSantis has urged residents to remain sheltered.

Tornado Hits St. Lucie County

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida with wind speeds of 120 mph and later downgraded to a Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds. St. Lucie County experienced a powerful tornado that resulted in significant destruction, especially in senior residential areas such as the Spanish Lakes Country Club, where fatalities were reported.

National Guard troops and local emergency services are actively involved in search-and-rescue operations. With more than 125 homes destroyed, most being mobile homes, the situation remains dire. The storm system is one of 19 confirmed tornadoes, sparking over 130 warnings across the state.

Governor DeSantis’s Response

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has emphasized the urgency of staying sheltered as conditions continue to pose significant dangers. “At this point, it’s too dangerous to evacuate safely, so you have to shelter in place and just hunker down,” DeSantis stated, urging communities to remain vigilant during the ongoing disaster.

DeSantis warned that the state’s emergency resources are prepared to conduct nighttime rescues if necessary, stating, “It’s going to mean pretty much all the rescues are going to be done in the dark, in the middle of the night, but that’s fine. They’re going to do that.” Authorities continue to monitor Hurricane Milton’s progression as it impacts the state.

Broader Impact of Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton’s impact is felt well beyond St. Lucie County, as other areas like Siesta Key, Tampa, and St. Petersburg deal with widespread destruction and flooding. A flash flood warning was issued in Melbourne, Florida, with potential storm surges threatening the coastline. Over 2.8 million customers face power outages throughout the state.

“We have lost some life,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson reported, highlighting the severe toll the storm has taken on local communities. The disaster has prompted swift federal support, with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden coordinating aid efforts to assist those affected.