Cape Coral residents start cleanup process

Kelly Anderson considered it just another windy evening at her Cape Coral home Saturday when everything started to rattle and shake.
Without consciously knowing why, she went to hide in a bathroom.

That impulse most probably saved her life.

A tornado the National Weather Service classified an EF-2 level with winds up to 135 mph hit a 10- to 12-mile swath of Cape Coral around 7 p.m. In its path, the storm peeled roofs off houses, snapped large trees, flipped cars and boats and made missiles out of light objects.

Despite the damage, no fatalities or major injuries were reported. Cape Coral Police Department spokesman Dana Coston said three minor injuries were caused by cuts from broken glass. The early estimates from Cape Coral police said the damage spread out across 200 homes totaling about $6 million.

The Lee County Electric Cooperative reported about 2,000 residents were without power at of 5:46 p.m. Sunday and it could take until Monday until every home has power restored.

Anderson's home took a direct hit.

"I just heard glass crashing everywhere," she said. "I'm behind the door in the bathroom trying to get it shut and debris is flying in the guest bathroom and then it stopped, and I walked out and everything was gone. Windows and doors, all of our living room, the kitchen, the pool cages in our backyard. Our boats are gone. It's devastating.

Anderson is confident she and her neighbors will rebuild.

"It's a tight community, and I think we'll get along just fine with recovery and cleanup."

Gov. Rick Scott, a Naples resident, toured the affected area — Gleason Parkway to the north, Cape Coral Parkway to the south, Pelican Boulevard to the east and Sands Boulevard to the west — Sunday afternoon and said there are damage cost thresholds that must be met before state and federal aid can be activated.

He praised the county and state emergency management offices and said they would work together to assess the damage. “So they’ll be going through and seeing if it reaches the damage level,” Scott said.

Born in Illinois and raised in Missouri, Scott said he was no stranger to tornadoes.

“Our neighborhood got hit by tornadoes, our house never did but some of the areas where I lived they did. It’s a pretty scary time,” Scott said. “Fortunately, in the case of a hurricane, we have a little bit of notice. (Tornadoes), you don’t have much notice.”

Michael Howerton, 16, said he was at the McDonald's at Chiquita Boulevard and Cape Coral Parkway when the tornado touched down.

"It started pouring rain and the wind was everywhere," Howerton said. "I was a bit worried cause my mom was alone at home."

Howerton said his mom called him and told him she was OK. She told him to shelter in place until the storm would pass.

He did.

"She just heard growling of this thunder and massive wind," he said. "I was a bit panicked by that so I was hoping nothing happened."

The American Red Cross has established a shelter for those displaced at Faith Presbyterian Church of Cape Coral. The church is located at 4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral and can be reached at 239-542-2858.

Besides property, Cape Coral residents are also missing their pets. While some have been reunited, those still searching can head to Lee County Animal Services website leegov.com/animalservices/lostpet/lostsearch to post a lost animal or see if their's has been found.

If you find a pet, Lee County ordinance requires you to surrender it within 24 hours. To report finding a pet, call 533-7387.

Betsy Clayton,  Lee County communications director,  said the lost pets website will be updated Monday morning.