Palmetto Residents Suffer Home Damage from Sunday’s Storm

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A resident of Palmetto has reported substantial damage to his family’s home due to severe thunderstorms that struck over the weekend.

In response, Manatee County officials provided tarps and other forms of aid to the affected families on Sunday.

“That’s the frightening aspect — how quickly this occurred. The sound of bending metal was followed in seconds by it being ripped off the house,” shared William Meade, the resident.

His priority was ensuring the safety of his wife and children.

“It happened in the blink of an eye,” he recalled.

During Sunday’s storm, powerful winds stripped away the entire carport of their home, sending debris onto the road.

“It just… it was gone,” Meade emphasized.

The affected home, located in Shadow Brook Mobile Home Park in Palmetto, is owned by his parents and serves as the residence for him, his wife, and their four children.

“My wife was panicking, saying, ‘Oh my God, oh my God.’ She rushed to the window only to see our roof being torn off. She was the most startled and quickly gathered our kids,” he recounted.

Meade noted that the home survived last year’s historic hurricane season, but the carport could not withstand the intensity of Sunday’s storm.

“It felt like my house was being ripped apart. It happened so fast,” he described.

With Florida’s rain season often bringing severe thunderstorms, Meade plans to enhance his preparations. “I think we’ll cover our shed with a tarp, especially since we keep our laundry appliances there. Beyond that, I believe we should be alright,” he said.

However, the family is now contemplating a move, concerned about the structural safety of their home moving forward.