Largo mobile home park damaged by Tuesday storms

LARGO — A sudden, violent storm tore away almost two dozen roofs and carports in a large mobile home park here midday May 14, but remarkably there were no reported injuries.

“My wife was in the next room and I was in the laundry room, but only the roof was damaged,” said John Harwood, a snowbird resident of the Pointe West mobile home park.

Harwood, who’s set to return to his other home in Newfoundland, Canada, next week, said one room was left completely roofless, but only the roof cover was torn off from the rest of the structure.

“So, the other roofing was still there, which is good,” he said with a stoic shrug.

At least seven homes were so severely damaged as to be tagged by Largo Fire Rescue as uninhabitable. Following assessments by the city of Largo’s Building Division and Pinellas County officials, 12 homes sustained major damage and 10 to 15 homes sustained minor damage.

The damage seemed heaviest to homes in streets in the middle part of the 341-unit 55 and older park, which is situated at 12651 Seminole Blvd. and is resident-owned. In the storm’s immediate aftermath, there was debate over weather the storm damaged was from a tornado, a straight-line wind or simply a severe storm — though one unidentified resident reportedly witnessed a funnel cloud.

“The wind was insane and the trees were going crazy, but I didn’t expect this,” said Peggy Jaspan, whose home near the front portion of the park was spared from damage. “Boy, don’t fool with Mother Nature.”

Largo Fire Rescue District Chief Kelly Callahan said the first call for help didn’t come in until 1:26 p.m., after the rain and wind had stopped. Crews from Pinellas County Emergency Management and the American Red Cross also responded.

“For the most part, it was carports and roofs that were peeled away,” Callahan said. “No injuries.”

By late afternoon, park residents already were in full cleanup mode, resolutely collecting debris to be picked up by trucks and hauled away. There were even signs of some dark humor as neighbors traded tales and offers of support.

“You are now entering a stress-free zone,” read a sign once proudly displayed on a damaged house and now pieced together on its front lawn.

At least one insurance company representative already was onsite to assess policyholders’ damage, Cathy James, who writes policies for Citizens. Of course, James didn’t have far to travel; she lives in Pointe West.