The National Weather Service Tampa Bay has confirmed an EF-1 tornado went through New Port Richey Friday afternoon.
News Channel 8 found severe damage on several homes in the Fairway Springs neighborhood in New Port Richey.
“I just feel like someone was watching over me because everyone was saying, ‘Why did your house not get touched?’” said Sandra Carson.
Carson’s home is only missing a few shingles. But the surrounding homes have roofs ripped off, broken windows and trees downed all over.
Carson wasn’t home when the tornado touched down, but knew something was wrong when her neighbor called.
“He said ‘Oh my God Sandra, the street looks like a disaster area. A tornado just hit,’” Carson recalled.
Sarah Perez lives just a block over, where the path of the tornado can be marked by the damage left in its wake.
“In Florida you hear it all the time – tornado warning, tornado watch – and you are like eh,” said Perez.
Perez said yesterday’s storm was different, much more serious. A huge tree crashed into her neighbor’s home, and now she is counting her blessings that she is just missing some Halloween decorations.
“Half a house, and who knows what could have happened,” said Perez.
The National Weather Service of Tampa Bay is expected to be out in the Fairway Springs neighborhood Monday to assess the damage.
There are no reported injuries connected to Friday’s tornado in Pasco County.
