FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. โ The Palm Coast Fire Department, Flagler County Emergency Management and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office held a press conference in Palm Coast Thursday morning to discuss the damage left behind from a "potential tornado." Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill says that the potential tornado possibly touched down in the Indian trail section of Palm Coast at "about 4:45 a.m."
"We can't officially make it a call as a tornado until the weather service conducts their assessment," Flagler County Emergency Management Director Johnathan Lord said. "They are in the air already with our team and they are pretty sure they're going to call it a tornado but, we can't really say that until they finish their drive around."
Berryhill says several structures and vehicles have been significantly damaged from the morning's storm, including "one house that has lost its entire roof." He also told First Coast News that damage assessment teams are out and are assessing highly affected areas as no injuries have been reported at this time.
"Most of the damage is trees, fences down, some of the drainage canals flooding and so forth," Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said. "We have had a couple of car crashes as a result of the weather but not as a result of the wind event so, I would remind people that the roads are wet, they're dangerous so, just be careful if you have to leave your home."
At 4:50 a.m., thunderstorms and wind damage caused multiple trees to go down around the west part of Palm Coast near 160 Bayside Dr, according to Flagler County Emergency Management. At the same time, Flagler Emergency Management reported downed powerlines and a vehicle that was rolled over at an unknown part of town.
At 4:45 a.m., Flagler Emergency Management reported that a tree was "blown down" along County Road 75. 10 minutes later, Florida Power and Light reported damage to a utility pole in the 100 block of Barrington Drive due to strong winds.
Berryhill says several Palm Coast families have experienced "catastrophic property loss." He also stated that an assistance center has been established at Parkview Church on Belle Terre Parkway where Flagler County Emergency Management staff and church staff will help impacted residents who cannot continue to shelter in their homes from the storm damage.
Lord says the storm cell that created the damage, "probably started out in the western side of the county," near County Road 302, "75," as well as State Road 100. He says several trees are down in the area but there are no signs of property damage.
