EF-1 Tornado Travels Almost 20 Miles Across Flagler County

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UPDATE: (DECEMBER 16) - Crews are working today and will continue through Friday to pick up debris left behind by the Korona Tornado.  

“This is a public safety issue along our roadways,” said County Engineer Faith Alkhatib. “We have estimated there is 10,000 cubic yards of debris, mostly downed trees, that need to be removed from the county right of ways.”

The work begins in Korona and will move east to John Anderson Highway. Affected areas include Trojan Way, Deer Run and Falling Waters, Fairchild Oaks, southern Seminole Woods, Plantation Oaks, Fairfield Oaks, John Anderson, and the Gamble Rogers Park area of Flagler Beach.

Korona, FL - An EF-1, what authorities are calling a "long-lived" tornado, traveled 19.6 miles across the south end of Flagler County earlier today. The National Weather Service reports the tornado entered the west side of the county near  Haw Creek Preserve at about 5:15 a.m. It traveled through Korona, causing some damage but no was injured.

You can see video of the damage caused by clicking here.

The tornado traveled east- northeast exiting into the Atlantic near Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area near 5:40 a.m. Reports show the maximum width of the hurricane was about a half-mile.

A home on Trojan Way – located directly behind the White Eagle in Korona – lost its roof and had its windows blown in. Flagler County has requested the assistance of the American Red Cross to meet the needs of the household.

 Other homes reported damage on Creek Bluff Run off John Anderson Highway. Minor to moderate damage was confirmed on Plantation Oak, Deer Run, Falling Waters, and Fairchild Oaks. Multiple damages within Flagler Beach have been reported, and are pending assessment.

Tarps are available to residents who sustained home damages from today’s storm at the Emergency Operations Center until 3 p.m.

 “We only have a limited number of tarps, so we are asking residents to call before they make a trip to the Emergency Operations Center,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord.

The phone number to call is 386-313-4200. The Emergency Operations Center is located at 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Building 3, which is directly behind the domed building.

 Tarps will be available until 3 p.m. or when supplies run out, whichever is first.

 

tornado, weather, Korona