Early-morning storms blew through Dade City, damaging dozens of homes in a mobile home park.
According to Pasco County Emergency Management officials, the storms damaged 65 mobile homes at the Country Aire Estates Mobile Home Park near U.S. 301 and 98 between Zephyrhills and Dade City.
“It started really blowing,” said resident Phil Jennings. "I mean it was like a tornado coming through here."
At first glance, the damage certainly looks like it was caused by a tornad, but our Weather Experts confirm it was 40-60 mph straight-line winds that tore through the park, damaging roofs and scattering debris everywhere, including in trees.
“Heard the loud bang," said resident Rob Bard. "Something hit this baby. We were in bed, we just rolled off the side of the bed onto the floor.”
One home was destroyed, sheet metal roofs were torn off four units, a screen room was destroyed on another unit, and multiple units saw damage of other kinds.
“I feel bad about that guy there, that’s my motorcycle riding buddy, he had it rough over there,” said Bard, referring to the owner of the one home that was destroyed.
In total, 65 homes suffered some kind of damage from the storms.
Neighbors rushed to aid the owners of the destroyed unit, helping them get their belongings out of the home.
“We’re just neighbors coming around to do what we do,” said resident Jerry Peptis, as he went from home to home to help.
What they do is take care of each other, with a few jokes along the way.
“Careful there Earl," said Bard to a friend just after he'd tripped. "No sense in dying after we survived.”
Pasco County Emergency Management says this mobile home park is private property, but the agency is helping clean up because of the safety concern.