Alejandro Alonso,Mary Vilamantez Obituary, Death; – The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday the names of the six individuals who tragically lost their lives due to a tornado that struck their Fort Pierce community last week.
“It is with profound sorrow that I share the news of the untimely deaths of the following residents of St. Lucie County, who perished as a direct consequence of the tornado that impacted Spanish Lakes,” stated Sheriff Keith Pearson. “Alongside my colleagues at the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, I extend our deepest sympathies to their families and friends during this incredibly challenging period.”
The victims have been identified as follows:
· William Cutlip, 82
· Mary Vilamantez, 65
· Alejandro Alonso, 66
· Roger Ammon, 85
· Sandra McDonald, 84
· Deborah Kennedy, 66
The tornado struck last Wednesday, causing devastation in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, a retirement community located in the Lakewood Park area of St. Lucie County, resulting in the loss of these six lives.
Collin Kelly, a resident of the village, likened the aftermath of the tornado to “a war zone,” describing the scene as “devastating.”
On Monday, counties in Florida that were severely affected by Hurricane Milton began to return to a state of normalcy, with power restored to the majority of areas, gas stations reopening, and students getting ready to resume classes.
However, some neighborhoods continued to experience power outages, with numerous homes and businesses suffering significant damage, and streets remaining flooded and littered with debris. Overall, the situation appeared to be improving.
Florida power companies had successfully restored electricity to approximately 93% of the 3.4 million residences and businesses that lost power following Milton’s landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane south of Tampa, bringing winds of 120 mph and a storm surge reaching up to 10 feet.
At least 11 fatalities were reported less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage across Florida and other Southeastern states, with the death toll from Helene exceeding 240.
