CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A tornado caused damage in Citrus County over the weekend.
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office said the tornado hit on the west side of Crystal River on Sunday.
"We did have what initial estimates are an EF-0 tornado develop," said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "It actually probably started out as a waterspout and made landfall in the Crystal River area."
The powerful storm was captured on camera, in what could only make homeowners feel helpless.
"We came out first light this morning," said Mitchell Kinney. "I was devastated, of course. Put a lot of time and effort and a lot of belly laughs at this place."
Kinney is now clinging to memories of what's left of his property after that tornado tore it apart on Sunday.
The storm destroyed two homes off West Roy Thomas Road near Crystal River. Kinney lives in Orlando but comes there on the weekends.
"You can see from the cabin across the street, 50 feet from it, we have nothing, and his is still standing," said Kinney. "That's how close it can be."
It was once a slice of paradise where families would fish, paddle board, and boat. The families that owned property there walked ABC Action News through the damage, with debris and personal belongings scattered everywhere.
"We got some pictures, and it just really didn't capture what it was like to walk through the kitchen, which is now just open," said Walker Willis.
Willis' family owned the other home that was destroyed. On Monday, the families started the clean-up process.
"So many fond memories, bonfires, and you come out here, and it's just desolate really," said Willis. "It's hard to imagine what it was like when it was fully functioning, and we were all here together, and it's hard to imagine how to go back to being that way."
The homeowners are also no strangers to dealing with storms, but this one hit especially hard.
"Last hurricane that came through, there was 32 inches of water in my place, but as soon as the water recedes, our place dries out, and 24 hours later, I'm back in business," said Kinney. "But, it'll be longer than that now."
The families who owned the properties said no one was home when the storm hit, so thankfully, no one was hurt.
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