![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/tornado-alerts-port-st-lucieimage-rec62k5DddDsNVhdx-1.jpg\")
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Photo Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Tornado warnings are supposed to give people at least a brief window to take cover, but in Port St. Lucie, Florida, some residents said an alert reached their phones only after an EF-0 tornado had already passed through part of the city.<\/p>\n
The storm damaged homes and scattered debris, raising difficult questions about how people can protect themselves when dangerous weather develops faster than alert systems can respond.<\/p>\n
Here’s what to know<\/p>\n
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado was on the ground for roughly 15 minutes after touching down around 6:10 p.m. on Aug. 23, covering a little more than two miles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After crossing the St. Lucie River as a waterspout, it moved back onto land near the Bay St. Lucie community at around 6:20 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CBS12<\/a> reported that the confirmed EF-0 tornado brought winds of up to 75 miles per hour and damaged several homes in Port St. Lucie.<\/p>\n A tornado warning was not issued until 6:28 p.m., about 18 minutes after the storm first touched down.<\/p>\n Before she understood what was happening, Port St. Lucie resident Carol Cadotte recalled that the storm announced itself with an unusual sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I just felt like a suction and a really strange noise,” Cadotte told the outlet.<\/p>\n More background<\/p>\n Greg Rule, chief meteorologist for CBS12 News StormTrac, said radar did not show a clear enough signal in time to support an earlier alert.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Basically the radar beam was flying up and over the storm system, so it didn’t really have a clear defined rotation,” Rule explained.<\/p>\n Forecasters face a basic problem with storms like this: tornadoes can form quickly, and the radar signals they depend on do not always look alarming right away.\u00a0<\/p>\n “When we were looking at it on radar [the day prior], it didn’t scream out, ‘Hey, this has potential for a tornado,'” Rule noted.<\/p>\n Despite its relatively low rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale, the tornado still caused serious damage in Port St. Lucie, peeling roofs off homes and damaging fences, boats, and a pool gazebo.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even a weaker tornado can leave residents facing expensive repairs and lingering stress as they recover.<\/p>\n What can be done?<\/p>\n Meteorologists warned the public not to rely on a single source for alerts. Because tornadoes can develop rapidly, consulting multiple warning systems can improve the chances of getting timely information.<\/p>\n Among the steps Rule recommended were leaving Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your phone, keeping a NOAA Weather Radio set for your county, and, when available, downloading a localized app for additional weather information and alerts.<\/p>\n Meteorologists advised people to act quickly when a warning is issued rather than wait to confirm the danger themselves. If threatening conditions are unfolding, getting indoors and taking shelter immediately can make a crucial difference.<\/p>\n For residents like Cadotte, the delay was unnerving.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Our phones went off and we looked at each other like, you’re kidding me, right?” she said.<\/p>\n Where can I learn more?<\/p>\n The delayed warning in Port St. Lucie was a reminder that a storm’s impact doesn’t end when winds die down.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Across Florida, staggering losses for agriculture<\/a> followed Hurricane Milton as growers counted the damage.<\/p>\n \u2022 After major weather disasters, death rates can climb<\/a> when healthcare systems struggle for weeks.<\/p>\n \u2022 Survivors often carry psychological injuries after disasters<\/a>, with PTSD lingering well beyond cleanup.<\/p>\n Get TCD’s free newsletters<\/a> for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Cool](\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg\"){kind=icon}
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