St. Johns County

Elkton storm damage: Tornado rips roof off business

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Drone video shows pieces of roof torn off a business in Elkton. On the ground, Action News Jax found the front doors and paneling of the warehouse ripped off -- their work space turned into a debris field.

“We got up at 3 a.m. when the alert starting going off,” Kim Bright said. “It was like phone, TV, radio, everything was going off.”

Carl and Kim Bright were at home a block over from FL Custom Kitchen & Bath when the storm barreled through Saturday morning.

Action News Jax First Alert Chief Meteorologist was live on air with a tornado warning.

“That freight train sound they talk about, I heard it,” Carl Bright said. “Five seconds later, the doors blew open. She grabbed me, pulled me in the bed with her and we both started praying.”

Action News Jax confirmed with the NWS that a tornado touched down off State Road 207 and County Road 305.

The Brights’ home was spared. When the sun came up, they went to check on their neighbors. Another neighbor had already gone to work helping FL Custom Kitchen & Bath business owners clean up the mess.

Owner Laura Orlowski estimates up to $80,000 dollars worth of supplies were damaged. That doesn’t count damage to the building.

“It looks really horrible but a lot of the really important things survived,” she said. “I was really happy to find out that our customers’ jobs were intact and they’re ready to go. Monday we will be installing.”

Two streets over, Action News Jax found two piles of wood and metal that appeared to be barns the storm leveled. We sent photos to the National Weather Service for confirmation.

Orlowski said she and others at her business were still looking for their shop cat. They didn’t see him while cleaning up but he was found later Saturday.

She said despite the damage, she’s grateful for everyone who stopped to offer their help or a kind word.

“We’re blessed by this Elkton community, I have to say,” she said.