JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – People living in about a 3.5 mile stretch from San Marco to Englewood High School are continuing to clean up the damage left behind by a tornado that hit Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service, it was an EF-1 tornado with winds of 104 mph that left a path of destruction across San Marco and the Southside over the weekend.
The tornado developed along the eastern shore of the St. Johns River and moved east-southeast for 3½ miles, weather officials said. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. There was substantial roof damage to several businesses near Philips Highway.
All day long, the cleanup continued in San Marco neighborhoods. A house off Parkwood Street was crushed by a falling tree and part of it was damaged when a tree uprooted in the front yard.
"There's a lot of damage. There's a lot of roofs, a lot of people that are going to have to pull together and get things right," said Dolphus Absher of Align Roofing.
Kevin Lehman said thankfully his home wasn't damaged by the twister, but his carport wasn't so fortunate. He said that neighbors have been helping each other clean up the area since the storm passed. He said that he knew the storm was strong, but he had no idea what was going on around him.
"I have never been in a tornado. I have been in a bunch of hurricanes," Lehman said. "It was like being in a hurricane. The rain was blowing sideways."
In Englewood, where the storm hit hardest, one family is thankful. A tree crashed into their home right where a 5-year-old boy was sitting.
Tammy Holland said her nephew was sitting in a room right where the tree came crashing in.
"All we could do is cry, and thank God that they made it and that everybody's OK," Holland said.
Holland's 5-year-old nephew, and his mother and father were home at the time.
"Her husband grabbed him just in time to get him into the hallway, but they were in the room," Holland said.
Holland's family said they didn't expect to see damage like this after the storm.
"It's crazy. I would never expect it to happen to someone we're related to," said Christina Ogden.
A large tree also fell down in front of Englewood Elementary School. There are several limbs down and a tree that has been split in half.
In the area of Spring Park Road, many people are also dealing with damage.
Vincente Dingianni, manager of the Englewood Apartments, said more than 20 trees fell on apartments. He said the damage is so bad, he will have to move two residents into other apartments.
People who live in the apartment community are helping with the cleanup.
"The community really stepped up, and a lot of them are out here volunteering and helping us out. So we appreciate them. We appreciate what they're doing," Dingianni said.
Alquan Suidam is one of those people who helped out.
"It feels really good because I don't normally see this many people out here at all," Suidam said.
Meanwhile, across the street, Holland is just glad the storms weren't worse.
"We're very thankful that they're OK. It's a tragedy for everybody around," Holland said.
One question Lehman and others in the area have is why no tornado warning was ever issued as the tornado made its way on shore from the St. Johns River and continued for 3½ miles. According to the National Weather Service, the storm had all of the characteristics of a severe thunderstorm. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued, but the tornado formed very quickly.
"From one observation to another, this storm was here and gone," said Al Sandrik, warning coordinating meteorologist with the NWS. "That's one of the limitations we have right now."
Sandrik said that as this storm was moving through town, it didn't have the same tornadic traits that prompted tornado warnings in other areas earlier in the day.
"We were under tornado watch earlier in the day, so the dynamics were certainly there. We knew there was a possibility for severe weather, but in this case, it probably was more of a case of the dynamics were there, got over the St. Johns River, got the nice open space and this was able to spin down to the surface," Sandrik said.
Neighbors said that despite all the damage and cleanup with massive trees down all over, including some that damaged homes, they are thankful that nobody was injured by the tornado.
Jacksonville's Public Works Department wants homeowners to be careful if they hire a contractor to help with cleanup.
Contractors cannot pile up storm debris at the curb for pickup, only homeowners are allowed to put waste at the curb. Disposal should be included in the contractor's price quote, and residents should work only with properly licensed, bonded and insured companies.
City officials said most of the debris is in the city's service area, so crews have been told to collect excess yard waste, waiving the 5-cubic yard limit.
Private hauler areas still have the limit in place, and haulers have been reminded to follow tagging protocols for excess left behind.
Also, a lot of people get hurt stepping on broken glass in the road, so residents should watch their step. And stay away from all power lines and cables and don't walk under or around trees that are damaged, officials said.
Residents can report any downed power lines to JEA by calling 665-6000.
Water spout off Fort Clinch late Saturday afternoon.