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Homeowners begin to pick up the pieces in wake of tornado

By NATHAN MAYBERG - | Jan 17, 2022

This mobile home, belonging to the family of Edward Murray, was overturned and completely upside down after a tornado touched down in South Fort Myers Sunday.

Cottage Point Trailer Park resident Edward Murray stood in front of his upside down home at Windcrest Drive and Point Breeze Drive late Monday morning, glad he, his teenage daughter Koki and the family dog Coco escaped without serious injury, but worried about whether he would be able to salvage his family’s belongings inside.

Their home was among the more than 100 damaged in three communities Sunday when a tornado with winds of up to 118 mph ripped through South Fort Myers, cutting a 125-yard-wide swath as it traveled on the ground for just under two miles.

Murray, his wife Yesenia and Koki, a junior at Bishop Verot High School, were among the more than 200 people who were displaced.

“Thankfully, there were no significant injuries and a few people were treated by crews with minor injuries,” according to a posting by the Iona McGregor Fire District.

Property damage was extensive, with a total of 108 homes affected.

Yesenia Murray (left) and Edward Murray with their dog Coco outside their overturned house at the Cottage Point Trailer Park, halfway between Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel off McGregor Boulevard.

Thirty were destroyed while 51 suffered major damage, according to the Iona McGregor Fire District, which was among the responding agencies that also included the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Emergency Medical Services and the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department.

At Cottage Point Trailer Park, halfway between Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel off McGregor Boulevard, numerous homes, including the Murray’s, incurred significant damage from a storm that seemed to roll in out of nowhere.

Murray had been doing some paperwork in his kitchen at about 7:40 a.m. before he went to Sunday Mass when he was startled by howling winds that swept quickly through the home.

“The wind picked me off my feet and blew me about 12 feet,” he said.

“I ended up under a pile of rubble of about 1,000 pounds, trapped,” Murray said. “I thought I was looking at the floor, I was looking at the sky.”

his mobile home, belonging to Edward Murray, was overturned and completely upside down after a tornado touched down in South Fort Myers Sunday.

His home had been flipped upside down with he and his daughter Koki inside.

Murray called 911. He was trapped in a four by four space between his refrigerator, sink and chairs.

“The neighbors were yelling and screaming at me through the rubble, giving me encouragement to hang on,” he said. “That was very comforting.”

Murray said the firefighters and first responders acted quickly to free him and Koki from the rubble. Initially, their miniature poodle Coco was missing but was found about six hours later.

His wife Yesenia had been away attending a funeral.

Murray, retired from a career in finance, was lucky. He had escaped with some minor cuts, scrapes and a bandaged hand. He credited the quick response of firefighters.

The Illinois native is worried about whether he will be able to recover personal belongings, personal papers, his wife’s medicine. They have been able to secure four boxes of photographs.

For now, they are staying with a friend nearby.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Murray family.

The United Way, meanwhile, is coordinating with The Collaboratory to assist those who have lost their homes or whose homes were otherwise damaged in the tornado. Visit https://collaboratory.org/ and click to donate. Monetary donations are the most effective way to help, rather than donating supplies.

More than 100 homes, in three communities, suffered damage.

“Iona neighborhoods were tremendously affected, resulting in demolished homes and displaced families,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced.

The public has been asked to avoid the affected areas.

Lee County opened a shelter at Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center where affected residents are receiving food and water along with PPE supplies.

The Red Cross has 27 volunteers and staff on the ground and, since Sunday night has provided nearly 300 meals to those impacted, the agency said in a release issued late Monday afternoon.

“Red Cross has two emergency response vehicles canvassing the affected areas providing additional meals to those that remain in their homes,” the release states. “Red Cross Disaster Emergency Services teams are also in the affected areas providing clean-up kits that contain items such as tarps, brooms, garbage bags, flashlights, batteries, large totes for personal belongings and personal protective equipment.”

Debris and rubble was strewn over the lawns and the side of the roads in and around the Cottage Point Trailer Park in South Fort Myers after a swift-moving tornado.

“As we’ve recently seen across the country and now locally, tornadoes strike quickly, leaving communities devastated,” said Jill Palmer, executive director for the Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter of the Red Cross, in a prepared statement. “It’s inspiring to see how quickly our community came together and the dedication from our volunteers that sprang into action to care for others in their time of need.”

Lee County opened a drop-off site for residents of south Fort Myers who were impacted by Sunday’s tornado at 14790 A and W Bulb Road in Fort Myers, FL 33908. The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. this week and into the weekend.

The county asks that only residents from the storm-affected area bring debris. No contractors or commercial drivers will be allowed.

This site is designed to help residents who want to begin clearing their properties. This is in addition to the regular curb-side service provided by the county’s contracted haulers.

No tornado damage was reported on Fort Myers Beach by the fire department.

Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt said no major damage was reported.