VERO BEACH, Fla.-- On Wednesday afternoon, meteorologists with the National Weather Service surveyed the damage left behind in the Highlands community in Vero Beach.
The storm that came through Tuesday afternoon and into the evening brought a tornado with it, according to Scott Spratt.
Scott is the warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
He explained what kind of signs the NWS was looking for before scientists determined a tornado came through.
"First of all, did the damage taper off on the edges, which would indicate more of a straight-line wind or was it very significant wind damage which would signify a tornado? We also look for uplifted debris. The tornado tends to lift things up into the trees whereas straight line winds tend to keep that debris closer to the ground," Scott said.
He said Tuesday's storm is a wake-up call for Florida residents.
"We're going to be in this pattern for the next 4-5 months with the daily rainfall and the thunderstorms that occur during the summer that develop quickly and dissipate quickly and they can cause wind damage and quickly spin up a tornado such as these," he said.
On Wednesday, many residents living in the Highlands community had to clean up the mess left behind.
According to the NWS, two homes has major damage while 16 others had minor damage, mainly to roofs.
Two trees were uprooted, the NWS observed. The total damage, according to the NWS, added up to $395,000.
The tornado traveled about a quarter mile through the neighborhood, with winds traveling between 80-90 miles per hour.
"Sounded like a freight train came through here," said Tommy Cossentino, who witnessed the tornado come through.
"I saw the wind start swirling around, picking up things and throwing it over the power lines. You can see the damage that was done," he said.
His house wasn't damaged, but the fences around his backyard were ripped out of the ground.
Diane Bernardo spent the day cleaning up the mess left behind on Wednesday.
"Looked like a bomb went off. Trees down, debris in the streets," she said.
She was told her roof would have to be replaced, but she said the damage on her home wasn't as bad as some of the damage experienced by her neighbors.
While the experience was frustrating, Diane said it brought her community together.
"We're meeting people we never knew were neighbors.. so it's wonderful. Everybody's helping everybody here," she said.
