The EF-3 tornado recently hit Palm Beach Gardens according to reports from the National Weather Service. This disaster stroke the Avanier community, one of the hardest hit areas in Palm Beach Gardens, causing extensive damage.
This supercell thunderstorm, measured to be an EF-3 tornado, left a path of devastation in the Avanier community. Witnesses said the tornado that hit the community was so strong that it flipped a truck upside down, the origin of which remains unknown. Our survey of the scene revealed that the EF-3 tornado, in its destructive path, possibly picked the truck from across the street and tossed it down like a piece of kindling wood.
As a result of the ensuing storm, approximately 100 houses in the Avanier community were severely damaged. In some cases, homes had their roofs ripped off, windows blown out and were subsequently boarded up. Concrete walls were demolished, and houses were severely damaged by the flying debris. In one shocking incident, a giant construction dumpster was scooped up by the furious winds and thrown onto the top of a house.
Residents of the community reported that the tornado came without a warning. Some managed to document the early moments of the tornado, but when the condition worsened, they were forced to retreat into their homes for safety. Residents whose homes were spared attested to the destructive capacity of the tornado. Some residents had to deal with gas leaks and were forced to evacuate, while others had their homes turned into uninhabitable ruins.
Despite the severe damage, there were no reports of any house being utterly demolished. Amid the ruins, many homeowners are facing an uphill task to fix their homes. Moreover, another incredible aftermath was a heavy concrete wall that was completely knocked down. A tree was also uprooted in the storm’s rage. The extent of the devastation left many residents overwhelmed that they could hardly spare time for interviews.
Indeed, the tornado was a powerful EF-3, demonstrating its destructive capacity by obliterating houses and flinging heavy objects around. A homeowner shared a frightening near-miss incident where a metal shard from one of the fences, flung by the tornado, went through his window, barely missing him and his wife. Their house bore the scars of the tornado’s anger and is still in need of extensive repair – from mere repainting to possibly a complete exterior stucco job.
The National Weather Service provided a preliminary report confirming that the tornado that wreaked havoc in the Avenir community was an EF-3 with an estimated peak wind of 140 mph. According to their assessment, the tornado resulted in extensive property damage, but no total destruction or lost lives.
In all, the EF-3 tornado brought significant hardship to the inhabitants of Palm Beach Gardens, particularly the Avanier community, leaving a trail of impressive wreckage and distraught residents in its wake. However, amid the rubble and ruins, a sense of relief could be felt as no lives were lost. Despite the massive property damage, the community remains hopeful, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity as they work towards repairing their homes and rebuilding their lives. This event serves as a reminder of the unpredictable power of natural disasters.
