Damage Reported Across Southeast from Strong Storms April 12, 2021
A cluster of severe storms swept across the South early Saturday, leaving one person dead in Louisiana, toppling trees and power lines in Mississippi, dropping large hail on an Alabama coastal city and leveling buildings in the Florida Panhandle.
St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard confirmed a man’s death in an early morning tornado in Palmetto, Louisiana. Bellard told KLFY-TV that Jose Antonio Higareda, 27, was killed when the tornado smashed into the man’s home.
He said seven injured people were taken to hospitals and at least eight homes were destroyed or heavily damaged, including one lifted off its foundations and plunked down nearly intact beside a road. Five of the homes were mobile homes.
17-year-old dies when electrocuted during Florida storm
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File photo (WJXT 2021)
HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A 17-year-old girl died Sunday during a strong storm that swept through central Florida, damaging homes and businesses.
The woman was driving in Spring Hill, north of Tampa, when her car struck a downed power line, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The girl stopped and the car caught fire. She climbed out of the car and stepped on the power line, electrocuting her. Her name has not been released.
The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, hail and lightning to wide areas of the state. Up to 2 inches of rain were reported in some areas, causing street flooding.
In Mount Dora, a home sustained severe damage when it caught fire after being struck by lightning, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Some neighborhoods near Orlando reported golf ball-sized hail.
In Lakeland, a hotel s roof sustained damage when it was partly ripped off by high winds. In Palm Harbor, north of Tampa, a bar s roof was damaged by winds.
The storm capped a weekend of damaging weather throughout the state.
A Saturday storm damaged about 20 homes on Florida s Gulf Coast and injured one person, officials said.
Manatee County Public Safety said the homes were damaged by straight-line winds Saturday afternoon and not a tornado, according to the Bradenton Herald. The wind s strength was not immediately known.