Death count rises to 20 in Florida tornadoes

[Soldier4Christ]

Death count rises to 20 in Florida tornadoes 
President Bush declares 4 counties disaster areas, freeing federal aid for recovery

LADY LAKE, Fla. -- Volunteers, jail inmates and National Guard troops help residents salvage their belongings today across an area devastated by tornado-bearing thunderstorms that killed at least 20 people, including a teenager struck by a tree as she lay in bed.

President Bush declared four counties disaster areas, freeing federal aid for recovery from the storms that struck Friday, spawning at least one tornado that ripped roofs and walls off homes and threw mobile homes off their foundations.

The twister hit between 3 and 4 a.m., when few people were awake to hear the tornado warnings broadcast just minutes in advance. Few communities in the region have warning sirens.

The storms blew a tree into 17-year-old Brittany May's bedroom, killing her, her stepmother said today.

Thirteen people had been confirmed dead in the Paisley area plus seven in Lady Lake, about 30 miles to the west, emergency officials said. Among the seven identified Saturday were Brittany, five women ranging from 66 to 81 and a 20-year-old man.

Recovery teams started winding down the search for victims.

About 30 low-risk jail inmates from Marion County dressed in green-striped uniforms helped clear debris in Lady Lake. Religious groups helped in the cleanup and some served food to rescue workers and victims, while about 40 National Guard members distributed blankets, food and water.

The Volusia County Property Appraisers Office put preliminary damage estimate at $80 million and said as many as 500 properties were damaged.

It was the second-deadliest tornado in state history, behind five twisters in February 1998 that killed 42 people in central Florida and damaged or destroyed about 2,600 homes and businesses.