Callie & others from Central FL

Oh no, please let us know that your alright!

That's the first thing I  thought of this a.m. when I heard the news on the car radio ... all our forum members living in that neck of the woods.  Hope everyone is OK and checks in with us soon - although I imagine the power may very well be out.
 
Joyce

I can't speak for callie, but in UCF area everything is ok.
 
What's strange is seeing my hometown, New Smyrna Beach, on the news. I guess it took a whallop there, but it's all structural damage, no one there has been reported dead. My mom's place and BF's parent's place are ok, but the mainland is pretty bad. I heard that the tornado went over the unincorporated part of the island though, thank goodness. Some of our good friends houses are messed up pretty bad, but at least everyone is OK.
 
 

I'm emailing back and forth to Callie, so I'm guessing she's alright[]

What's strange is seeing my hometown, New Smyrna Beach, on the news.

My pseudo home town, too - graduated from New Smyrna Beach High.  Talking to a friend now who says the tornado hit 2 blocks from his house and the noise was scary.  Still have no power.
 
Great Aunt in Lady Lake hid in the bathroom and is alive, that's all we know.  No idea if what her damage was.  Frightening.  Glad Callie and you are ok!!!

Mirandadobe,
 
The tornado apparently went through the inlet park...too bad it missed Minorca. [] 

We are fine -- I emailed Jaime from work once I discovered how 'national' this all went so I was hoping she chimed in but we ARE OK.
 
A tornado 'played around' here in Altamonte but I don't see a ton of devastation at all and it was the 'other end' of town.  Lady Lake and Paisley are primarily all retiree's -- very old Florida "cracker country" ... meaning pretty poor, mostly mobile home parks and small homes.  They got hit bad -- and I doubt they've found all the dead yet -- at this point they have to sift thru rubble.
 
Billy and I were both awake this morning about that time -- I have a feeling he woke me up 'worrying'.  There was sporadic damage -- the big tractor trailer accident was about half an hour up I-4 from us at Dr. Bailey's 'exit' (my regular vet) -- and he was closed today because of the storm damage so I haven't been able to find out if they're ok yet. 
But that tractor/trailer accident was something else -- literally either 'wind' or a tornado just plain picked up 1 eighteen-wheeler and kinda threw it at another.  Thankfully given the time of early morning no one else got wiped out and neither driver was badly injured which is nothing short of miraculous.  It shut down the interstate there (which is "east" of Altamonte Springs where we live about half a dozen exits).
 
It was near that New Smyrna exit where the big wreck was on I-4.  And Deltona and Daytona (both n Volusia County) got smacked again (they did on Christmas Day with a very similar tornado that tore thru).
 
Thanks for asking!!  Callie

I can't post from work (some setting he's got has it so I can't type 'in' any box on any website -- he's ultra overly careful about the computer, so I just can't post from work at all.  Sorry folks!!

I keep hearing from friends that Deland was pretty well demolished in a lot of places.  Ugh! Just when I was thinking I missed Florida...and it's beautiful weather...

This has been a STRANGE winter -- very very abnormally hot (80-90 most of the time) OVERLY humid and 'moldy' smelling most of the time.  Not at all pleasant -- just soggy and smelly. 

I agree. I got a really cute cold day coat for Christmas and I haven't even worn it.