Floridian DUers!! Are you OK?

TAVARES, Fla. - Officials say there have been an unknown number of fatalities as thunderstorms ripped across central Florida.

A dispatcher at the Lake County Sheriff's Office is confirming that there had been fatalities.

The woman, who would not give her name, says that damage had included quote -- "every kind of damage you can think of."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16940788/

Is anyone from Volusia County?
I'd better call him...

It's a mess here, but no reported fatalities. At this point, injuries appear to be mostly confined to traffic mishaps. I don't think Daytona Beach got hit with any tornadoes, btw.

Now is supposed to be the "safe" time to visit Florida - non-hurricane season. I lived in central Florida for about 3 years ( a loooong time ago) but don't recall any tornados.

However, they are usually F0 or F1 tornadoes, so they don't do much more than scare people and tear off the odd roof. Killers like these are unusual and seem to be connected to El Nino events. The last time we had tornadoes this powerful (and in this amount) was, I think, 1997. Over forty people were killed. Those were, if memory serves, F3 and F4 tornadoes. I suspect that last night's were F3 at least, based on some of the pictures I'm seeing.

POSTED: 5:08 am EST February 2, 2007
UPDATED: 7:00 am EST February 2, 2007

A line of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes ripped through Central Florida early Friday morning, destroying more than 100 homes and resulting in an unknown number of deaths.

The most severe damage was reported in Lady Lake, but extensive damage was also found in DeLand and New Smyrna Beach, WESH 2 News reported.

Officials in Lake County said there were several fatalities in Lady Lake. Emergency managers have called for a massive search and rescue effort following the storms, and they're asking for help from surrounding counties.

more.... http://www.wesh.com/weather/10906729/detail.html

I am a little bit North of Daytona and it was a wild ride last night.

I have been trying to get in touch with my Mom, who lives in Orlando. They lose power if someone sneezes down there.

Here is another report:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/weather/orl-bk-weather02022007,0,1660247.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Two left dead in wake of storm
Tornadoes leave destruction and death in Lake, Volusia counties
Walter Pacheco, April Hunt and Kristen Reed
Sentinel Staff Writers

February 2, 2007, 7:50 AM EST

A severe line of thunderstorms and tornados slammed through Lake and Volusia counties overnight, leaving fatalities and destruction in its path, officials said this morning.

In a televised interview, Lake County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Christie Mysinger confirmed two fatalities in the Lady Lake area.

"We are asking residents to stay in their homes if they don't have to be on the roads. If they must be on the roads, please use main roads and not back roads due to the debris," she said in an e-mail.

Deputies set up a command post at the Villages, the massive retirement community that encompasses parts of Lake, Marion and Sumter counties, where a tornado hit earlier this morning. The North Lake Presbyterian Church located on Rolling Acres Road, behind the Home Depot in Lady Lake, has been set up as a shelter.

more at link.

Given that the power is out in Lake CO FL, I probably won't hear from some relatives for a few days. But at least they live in a real house instead of a trailer.

A link to a CNN story on this:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/02/02/florida.storm/

Pixs and video: http://www.wesh.com/video/9329788/index.html

Statement as of 7:56 AM EST on February 02, 2007


The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
southeastern Polk County in Florida.

* Until 815 am EST

* at 756 am EST... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
tornado over southern Polk County... moving east at 55 mph.

* The tornado will be near...
Frostproof now.

This storm is moving across Highway 98. Please report any damage
nearby to local law enforcement.

This is a dangerous storm! Move into the interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building... away from windows. Cover your head and
body with pillows or blankets.

Please report tornadoes or funnel clouds... winds of 58 mph or
higher... hail the size of pennies of larger... and any wind damage to
your National Weather Service in Ruskin by calling 813-645-2323.


&&

Lat... Lon 2786 8165 2768 8162 2772 8117 2789 8133

A person above asked about how often tornadoes strike Florida in January.

They are common occurances. I belive at least 80% of all January tornadoes happen in Florida.