In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, residents in Stuart are grappling with the destruction left by a tornado that tore through their community. Families returned to the mobile home park Thursday to assess the damage, with many facing the heartbreaking reality of loss.
“It was like a train just coming through,” one man recalled, describing the terrifying sound as the twister approached. Pat Sweitzer, a longtime resident whose home had withstood countless hurricanes over nearly 50 years, was among those devastated.
“We pretty much lost everything,” she said. Despite surviving past storms like Hurricanes Francis and Jean, this tornado left Pat’s home in ruins, throwing her husband Wayne across the room during the chaos.
The tornado didn’t just wreak havoc on homes; a nearby middle school had its roof ripped off, and snapped power lines and debris were strewn across the neighborhood. As residents pick through the wreckage, some, like Wayne, are considering rebuilding. But Pat isn’t sure. “I don’t think another trailer,” she said, unsure of what the future holds.
The cleanup effort has only just begun, with the Treasure Coast facing similar scenes of destruction. Schools in the area are still assessing the damage, determining how to proceed for the upcoming week. For many residents, though, the decision ahead is a difficult one: rebuild, or move on from the place they’ve called home for so long.
Leave a Reply