A classic El Nino event occurred in Central Florida overnight. It was a devastating event for some in Lake, Sumter and Volusia counties.
Around 3 a.m., a rotating thunderstorm developed in northern Sumter County. It was strong enough to drop a tornado in the southern part of The Villages retirement community.
The storm continued across the town of Lady Lake and ended many miles later in Deland. Damage appeared to be caused by an F2 tornado which would classify it at 120 mph to 150 mph. The National Weather Service will survey the damage and make its assessment.
Judging by aerial pictures and reports from the ground, many homes were completely flattened. How so many people survived will make stories for week to come. This storm track, though, was personal for me.
My parents live about 5 miles from the devastated neighborhoods. At 5 a.m., I called my mom to ask if she was OK. Her answer, "Why?" She didn't even know about the damage that had occurred so close to her home. Most of Central Florida does not have tornado sirens.
At daybreak, I asked her and my dad to drive around and check for damage. They were stunned by what they saw -- lives torn apart only a few miles away.
Reporting on this devastation took on a new importance. So many times, as a reporter, you just describe the damage and how it occurred. But this storm was different.
