LONGWOOD, Fla. – Homeowners in Longwood are beginning the difficult process of cleaning up after a tornado tore through their neighborhood, leaving behind significant damage. The Red Cross has stepped in, distributing emergency kits to affected residents.

Yvonne Kuema, who lives on Blue Iris Place, described the terrifying moment when the storm struck.

“When you are in the closet, all you hear is vroom, vroom, vroom, and it didn’t last more than a minute,” Kuema said.

She recalled how her husband pulled her into a closet for safety.

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Kuema offered assistance to her neighbors across the street, who were visibly shaken.

“They were in the front talking, and I said, ‘Come in,’” she said. “She came in with me. He was pretty much busy on the phone and very worried about everything.”

Across the neighborhood, debris littered the streets as utility crews worked to clear fallen trees and debris.

Edward Sills, who lives in Palm Harbor, rushed to Longwood after receiving a call from his father-in-law, whose home was damaged in the storm.

“My wife’s father lives here, and he called us this morning rather nonchalantly, ‘Yeah, we just had a tornado,’” Sills said. “Of course, my wife got a little panicked.”

Sills described the damage as extensive.

“Part of the sheeting on the roof was stripped off, exposing the attic,” he said. “Water and everything got inside, so now the insulation is soaking wet.”

Surveying the damage, he compared the scene to another devastating storm.

“It reminds me of Hurricane Andrew,” he said.

Nearby, another homeowner assessed his property.

“A lot of roof damage,” he said. “I’ve got boards on the side of my house. You can tell a hurricane came through. It took down fences. Our whole lanai is gone.”

Despite the destruction, he remained grateful.

“My wife, of course, was very scared,” he said. “A lot of people were scared for sure when it comes to that kind of stuff. You don’t think it’s going to happen to your house, until it happens.”

The Red Cross said it will continue to provide aid to those affected.