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Officials: Damage during morning storm
Updated: Friday, 06 Jul 2012, 6:42 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 06 Jul 2012, 2:05 PM CDT
PENSACOLA, Fla (WALA) -
A strong line of thunderstorms rolled into the area Friday morning, hitting northwest Florida hard.
The weather left a number of damages in its wake.
Helga Bridwell's home in the Tiger Point community in Gulf Breeze was struck by lightning from the storm.
"We didn't even know what happened. We have a great big tree in the back and we thought maybe that got hit but it didn't," said Bridwell.
The bolt hit Bridwell's roof, setting her attic on fire.
"The fireman was knocking on my door saying 'Get out, get out of your house!' I jumped out of bed with my husband and ran out of the house. It was raining buckets," Bridwell said.
The fire knocked out Bridwell's power.
However, she wasn't the only one. Officials in Santa Rosa County said there were several other cases of homes struck by lightning.
Officials in Escambia County said there were numerous downed trees that damaged property and one even landed on a moving truck
A large tree branch hit Clifford Young's fence, directly next to his home.
"Well, it was kind of scary because it woke us up. When you wake up and you hear a big sound and there's lightning everywhere, you don't know what's going on," said Young.
Young said he's glad the storm wasn't any worse.
Bridwell agrees and said she's just thankful her home is still standing.
"It didn't even have to be the fire because the smoke could have killed us. I sure do count my blessings, you better believe it. It could have been the end," Bridwell said.
Officials said no major flooding was reported from the storm.
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