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State of Emergency declared for Charlotte County after two confirmed tornados hit on Sunday

WGCU
Published January 18, 2022 at 10:14 AM EST
National Weather Service
National Weather Service
National Weather Service

UPDATED January 18, 2022 2:42pm
The National Weather Service on Tuesday reported a second tornado touched down in Charlotte County on Sunday.

The NWS reported the second touchdown occurred after the EF1 tornado that struck the Gasparilla Mobile Estates community at 6:37 a.m. lifted off the ground and touched down again in the Holiday Lakes mobile home community at 7:16 a.m. also as an EF1.

The second tornado was 50 yards wide and travelled for a half mile, producing winds of 100 mph. It destroyed four homes and damaged two more. The Gasparilla Estates tornado was also 50 yards wide and travelled 1.5 miles, producing winds of 110 mph. It destroyed 21 homes and damaged 18 others.

The Charlotte County Commission on Monday declared a local state of emergency in response to the storm damage. County officials completed their damage assessment on Monday and is awaiting a response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding a disaster declaration and potential aid for residents impacted by the tornadoes.

Charlotte County Commission declared a state of emergency in the county Monday in response to tornado damage on Sunday.

A tornado with 110 mph winds touched down stretching 1.4 miles near Gasparilla Marina in one of the earliest twisters to hit the region Sunday morning. In its wake, 21 mobile homes were destroyed, with 18 more being damaged.

For updates, visit the Charlotte County Emergency Management Facebook page.
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