Tornado Descends On Florida Prison, Injures Two, As National Weather Service Issues Warnings

A tornado that descended near Blountstown, Florida, has injured at least two people and damaged several vehicles, reports NBC News. According to the report, the tornado was caused by weather conditions that are likely to cause several morning storms across the southeast. Several buildings were damaged by the tornado as well.

Meanwhile, WFTV explains that the tornado reportedly touched down at a state prison in Florida’s Panhandle in the early hours of the morning. According to Calhoun County Sheriff Glenn Kimbrel, the two people in the list of injured had just arrived at the Calhoun Correctional Institution for their shifts when the storm struck the area.

According to reports, the storm hit the area at around 4 a.m. CST. He added that between 25 and 30 vehicles were left damaged in the parking lot. Fencing around the prison’s perimeter was knocked down as well, though there was no security threat. The prison, which has a capacity of nearly 1,400 inmates, is secure, and no inmates have escaped, he confirmed. A number of officials, including the sheriff’s deputies and correctional officers, have reached the scene, along with Florida Highway Patrol staff.

In an update, the Calhoun County Superintendent’s Office has confirmed that all schools within Calhoun County schools will remain open today.

The National Weather Service has in the meantime issued a Tornado Warning in several counties as this report is being filed. They have also reported the formation of another tornado near Pelham, said to be moving in the north east direction at 50 mph. A tornado watch has also been issued for the counties of Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla in Florida and for the counties of Baker, Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Early, Echols, Grady, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas in Georgia. The warning stays until 2:00 p.m.

People are advised to take all necessary precautionary measures, and have been told to leave mobile homes and vehicles and move in to safer structures. If you happen to be inside a multi-story structure, it is advised that you get to the lowest floor inside it. Try to put as many walls as possible between you and the tornado, the National Weather Service bulletin says.

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