Panama City area - Tornado updates

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Ivan Local Updates

Two persons are dead as a string of tornados roared into Bay County late this afternoon. The twisters were spawned by Hurricane Ivan.

In all, there were about a dozen tornados in a little more than an hour, and they stretched from one end of the county to the other. One person died on Allenton Road in the Sandy Creek area when a twister demolished two houses. The second fatality came at Panama City Beach in an area off Thomas Drive near North Lagoon.

The man killed at Panama City Beach was identified as 84 year old John Martin, a long time local resident. He was visiting at his daughter’s real estate firm, Marty Martin Real Estate on Thomas Drive when the tornado struck.

The fatality at Sandy Creek was identified as 77 year old Nancy King. She was killed when the tornado demolished her home.

In addition, six people were injured including two Bay County sheriff’s deputies.

Damage was reported to be major in the area off Thomas Drive and North Lagoon Drive.

Sheriff Frank McKeithen told NewsChannel seven Hamilton’s restaurant was heavily damaged, a number of businesses and homes in that area were demolished. McKeithen says two deputies and several customers were inside Hamiltons at the time the twister hit and had to hang on to keep from being sucked out of the building.

Other tornados were reported in Callaway in the area around South Berthe and Boatrace where damage was major… In parker south of Highway 22A there was another twister that caused heavy damage… Harrison and 19th and Harrison at 7th, plus the area around the News Herald on West 11th Street and on east Business 98 near the main PC Fire Station also saw twisters.

Parker Mayor Brenda Hendricks says a tornado has completely disected her city. The mayor says at least 70 homes, mostly south of Highway 22 A were damaged or destroyed.

Bay County School officials say two local schools have damage, Parker and Patronis Elementary Schools but the extent isn’t known yet

Other tornados were reported near Wewahitchka and Overstreet in Gulf County where several different storms were sighted. A tornado was sighted near Highway 79 and Back Beach Road and several were in the Bayou George area.

A waterspout moved ashore at St. Joe Beach in Gulf County causing some minor damage.

A Curfew has been put into effect from 9 PM Wednesday night to 7 AM tomorrow morning here in Bay County

A rash of twisters is also striking Jackson and Homes Counties. One tornado struck struck at the Marianna Industrial Park and destroyed the Sykes Building. Sykes is in the process of closing its Marianna facility which is believed to be empty tonight. A twister also struck the Federal Prison at Marianna and there was damage, but the extent isn’t known yet.

A Big tornado struck at Esto in Holmes County tonight. Initial reports say the path of destruction is nearly a mile long. A number of structures were damaged. Its not know about any injuries yet.

The Tornado activity continues late into the night.

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/1013161.html