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| Hunt for Florida tornado victims | Hunt for Florida tornado victims |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Rescuers in Florida are searching for survivors after severe storms and a tornado left at least 19 people dead in the southern US state. | Rescuers in Florida are searching for survivors after severe storms and a tornado left at least 19 people dead in the southern US state. |
| "Our priority today is search and rescue," state Governor Charlie Crist said, after declaring a state of emergency in four affected counties. | |
| There are fears that the death toll will rise further. | There are fears that the death toll will rise further. |
| The storms hit before dawn on Friday, damaging hundreds of houses and leaving more than 10,000 people without power. | The storms hit before dawn on Friday, damaging hundreds of houses and leaving more than 10,000 people without power. |
| All the deaths occurred in the central Lake County, where some of the worst of the damage was reported. | All the deaths occurred in the central Lake County, where some of the worst of the damage was reported. |
| House-to-house search | House-to-house search |
| Rescue teams with dogs are continuing to comb through piles of debris in the most affected areas. | Rescue teams with dogs are continuing to comb through piles of debris in the most affected areas. |
| Animated guide: Tornado In pictures: Florida tornadoes | Animated guide: Tornado In pictures: Florida tornadoes |
| Officials say the priority is finding survivors who may be trapped, but also to recover bodies. | Officials say the priority is finding survivors who may be trapped, but also to recover bodies. |
| "We are doing house-to-house searches at this time," Lake County's emergency services' chief Jerry Smith said. | "We are doing house-to-house searches at this time," Lake County's emergency services' chief Jerry Smith said. |
| Officials say it could take several days to determine the exact number of dead. | Officials say it could take several days to determine the exact number of dead. |
| Shelters have been opened to house the affected residents. | Shelters have been opened to house the affected residents. |
| 'Like a train' | 'Like a train' |
| The storms hit during the night, at about 0315 (0815 GMT), when most residents were sleeping. | The storms hit during the night, at about 0315 (0815 GMT), when most residents were sleeping. |
| We have complete devastation of homes, of businesses, religious institutions Christopher PattonEmergency official | We have complete devastation of homes, of businesses, religious institutions Christopher PattonEmergency official |
| Residents spoke of "almost continuous lightning", likening the storm to a freight train that hit their homes. | Residents spoke of "almost continuous lightning", likening the storm to a freight train that hit their homes. |
| "It woke me out of a dead sleep," David Wholly told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. | "It woke me out of a dead sleep," David Wholly told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. |
| "I heard the noise, and it sounded like a train coming and I ran to the bathroom. The tree went right through the bedroom window where my head was." | "I heard the noise, and it sounded like a train coming and I ran to the bathroom. The tree went right through the bedroom window where my head was." |
| Officials later confirmed that 13 people were killed in the Paisley and six in the Lady Lake areas of Lake County. Among the dead were several children. | Officials later confirmed that 13 people were killed in the Paisley and six in the Lady Lake areas of Lake County. Among the dead were several children. |
| Dozens of mobile homes and church in Lady Lake were demolished. | Dozens of mobile homes and church in Lady Lake were demolished. |
| 'Shocked but grateful' | 'Shocked but grateful' |
| Hilary Hague, who lives in The Villages retirement complex near Lady Lake, told BBC News that the storms had started with severe lightning, followed by heavy rain. | Hilary Hague, who lives in The Villages retirement complex near Lady Lake, told BBC News that the storms had started with severe lightning, followed by heavy rain. |
| Entire streets have been wiped out by the storms | Entire streets have been wiped out by the storms |
| She said it got worse later " when there was almost continuous lightning". | She said it got worse later " when there was almost continuous lightning". |
| "We went outside to check, and heard a huge whooshing sound so went back inside. We thought nothing more about it until we saw the damage this morning," she said. | "We went outside to check, and heard a huge whooshing sound so went back inside. We thought nothing more about it until we saw the damage this morning," she said. |
| While she and her husband had escaped relatively lightly, "houses nearby lost all their windows and roofs, and there were cars turned up onto their roofs". | While she and her husband had escaped relatively lightly, "houses nearby lost all their windows and roofs, and there were cars turned up onto their roofs". |
| She said local residents were "quite shocked - this is not a usual occurrence in this area - but also grateful" that they had apparently escaped the deaths and injuries suffered elsewhere. | She said local residents were "quite shocked - this is not a usual occurrence in this area - but also grateful" that they had apparently escaped the deaths and injuries suffered elsewhere. |
| In 1998, tornadoes killed 42 people in Florida in what was the state's worst storm on record. | In 1998, tornadoes killed 42 people in Florida in what was the state's worst storm on record. |
Do you live in the region? Have you been affected by this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Do you live in the region? Have you been affected by this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |