Broward County

Dania Beach Homes Damaged After Tornadoes Touched Down During Historic Weather: NWS

National Weather Service officials said their survey team identified 2 EF-0 tornadoes, one that had been just southwest of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and the other west of Interstate 95 and north of Sheridan Road

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Homes in one Dania Beach neighborhood were left damaged after two tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in Broward County during Wednesday's historic weather event, forecasters said.

National Weather Service officials said their survey team identified 2 EF-0 tornadoes, one that had been just southwest of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and the other west of Interstate 95 and north of Sheridan Road.

An EF-0 tornado has maximum wind speeds between 65 and 85 mph.

The NWS reported noted that the tornadoes were very small and didn't last very long.

At the Ocean Waterway mobile home park in Dania Beach, about a dozen homes were damaged by one of the tornadoes. Winds were estimated to be around 85 mph at one point.

No injuries were reported, but multiple roofs were ripped off homes. Video showed what appeared to be the tornado quickly moving through.

Florida declared a state of emergency for Broward as Fort Lauderdale residents wait for floodwaters to recede. NBC6's Niko Clemmons reports

The community is made up of mostly French Canadians who are snow birds. Many were getting ready to leave for the summer when they got hit, but said they're feeling lucky that they survived. 

“We had just received a tornado warning and to watch out. We had so many people and we had many people in the park that went to the clubhouse. That’s our safe house," Serge Lalond said. "And some people stayed in their home. And luckily all the homes that were damaged there was nobody in it, so no injuries at all.”

The National Weather Service reported "prolific" rainfall amounts in coastal Broward County Wednesday.

Preliminary figures from the NWS showed 25.91 inches of rain fell at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, shattering the old record of 14.59 inches set in 1979.

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