ORLANDO, Fla. – A tornado touched down Monday in Seminole County, collapsing a home in Longwood and overturning a tractor-trailer in Lake Mary, WKMG in Orlando reported.
The National Weather Service reported that a confirmed tornado touched down around 9:40 a.m. and “was located over Lake Mary,” heading northeast at 30 mph.
The NWS said emergency management confirmed the tornado and warned that “flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter.”
The semitrailer overturned near Lake Emma Road and Commerce Street in Lake Mary.
“We did have a driver and his dog in the semi when it did get flipped by the wind event. They’re both OK, and we’re really grateful for that,” a Lake Mary first responder said.
While holding his dachshund, the driver said he was lying down and resting in the back of the truck when the severe storm struck.
Through a translator, the driver said he was very scared because the big rig was lifted into the air and then hit the ground.
Later, the Seminole County Fire Department reported that severe weather collapsed a home in the 2100 block of Blue Iris in Longwood.
Two people were home at the time of collapse, but they were not injured, fire officials said.
“We are evaluating the rest of the area and have established a Unified Command in conjunction with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management,” SCFD said in a statement.
Elsewhere, a structure was demolished in Longwood, with video showing a wooden frame strewn about while downed trees covered a sport utility vehicle. It’s not known if anyone was injured.
Trees were downed across the area, with many roads littered with limbs and leaves.
Tornado warnings were issued throughout the morning across the region, from Sumter to Volusia counties, with the last one expiring at 10:45 a.m.