Twister Barrels Through Palm Beach Gardens
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) - A twister with winds up to 90 miles per hour barreled through Palm Beach Gardens early Monday morning - accompanied by powerful storms, according to the National Weather Service.
The wicked weather damaged several homes and schools in Palm Beach County. Wind speeds of about 50 to 60 miles per hour caused much damage to the area.
Several streets, including Donald Ross Road, were closed all morning due to downed power lines.
At Dwyer High School, the storm left debris scattered over the athletic fields, ripping roofs off dug outs and bending the fence around the ball field. The school remained closed Monday.
"That metal there is the shed and there's parts of the scoreboard around and there's part of the end of the fence, the yellow part of the track and some netting from the batting cages. It's just crazy," said student Cruz Ayala.
Inside the school the ceilings in several classrooms collapsed, windows were blown out and glass over an atrium is cracked. The fear is that the glass could fall.
"We're not sure if it actually got hit by anything or if the pressure in this building expanded and pushed out. Those are large, large pieces of glass," said Dr. Robert Avosso with Palm Beach Schools.
A section of bleachers from nearby The Benjamin School also ended up on Dwyer' field.
The Palm Beach County School District canceled classes for the day at the upper school campus of The Benjamin School due to storm damage. Palm Beach Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa was set to tour the area Monday.
On Isla Verde Drive, neighbors emerged from their homes Monday to find roof tiles scattered everywhere and their garage doors pretty banged up.
On the road to Juno Beach, Florida Power & Light crews were lined up making repairs after a row of trees fell over, taking the power lines with them. Drone video from the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department showed trees down in neighborhoods around the area.
"Very loud during the night. Torrential rain I heard, the wind, like a hurricane again," said Paula Frank who lives nearby.
"We had to go to our lowest level, the bathroom, and turn the lights off and close the door and just seek shelter," said Sasha Judge who lives nearby.
At a mobile home park in Juno Beach, several homes were damaged, including one with a woman who lives inside. She ran out of her place as the storm hit afraid it could come down on top of her.
