Strong storms leave damage behind in SWFL

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Tornadoes touched down early Tuesday morning along Alligator Alley in Collier County and Moore Haven in Glades County, the National Weather Service confirmed.

In Collier County, officials say the tornado touched down around 5 a.m. on I-75 near mile marker 70. It was not immediately known if there were any injuries or property damage.

Homeowners in the Enchanting Shores community, off Manatee Road in southern Collier County, woke up to damaged carports.

“I came out and said ‘what are they all doing out there?’ And then I looked and said ‘my God, there’s nothing in our carport!’ All the way back, the bar, the furniture,” said resident Barb Clark.

“We heard it sounded something like a train and it got noisy and I said ‘dear, we gotta get in the closet.’ And by the time we got outta bed, it was gone, it came through that quick,” said John Zullo.

In Glades County, the EF0 tornado also touched down around 5 a.m. Moore Haven residents say they heard what sounded like a “horrible” noise early Tuesday morning, as strong winds moved through the area.

Lisa Foster’s home on the 1100 block of North Avenue in Moore Haven was ripped off and debris was scattered throughout the neighborhood. Some believe winds took parts of the home as far as a mile and a half away. At least two other mobile homes were destroyed by the strong winds and several trees were uprooted.

Severe weather moved through Southwest Florida early Tuesday, resulting in tornado watches across the region until 8 a.m.