“Likely tornado” leaves a trail of destruction in DeLand, National Weather Service says

The National Weather Service will be in DeLand Wednesday to survey damage from a likely tornado that destroyed homes and buildings, flooded streets, toppled cars and downed treed and powerlines Tuesday.

A short-lived tornado warning hit Volusia County around 4 p.m. and shortly after damage reports were reported.

The City of DeLand shared this video via twitter saying most of the damage was in the Northern portion of the city and asked residents to avoid the area.

Residents across DeLand shared photos of the damage on social media.

The Florida Highway Patrol tweeted a video from the inside of a box truck that overturned during the storm, the driver suffered minor injuries.

A senior meteorologist from weather.com Jonathan Erdman said Tuesday’s weather was a little more severe than usual.

“Instead of a warm dome of high-pressure overhead suppressing most thunderstorms, a flow of southwest winds aloft and small upper-level disturbances made the atmosphere more unstable,” Erdman said on their website. “That’s also the reason for the hail reports.”

The same weather conditions are expected Wednesday afternoon.

Mike Chitwood, the Sheriff of Volusia county sent out warnings to residents to beware of what he called “storm chases” who may try to scam victims after the storm.

In a tweet, he said to be skeptical of offers that sound too good and suggested residents get multiple estimates on their repairs.

Click here for more tips from the Better Business Bureau on how to proceed with storm repairs.

Cox Media Group