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Tornado Kills Two In Manatee County

Duette is located in northern Manatee County.
Manatee County Sheriff's Office
Duette is located in northern Manatee County.

Two Manatee County residents were killed and four children were hospitalized after a tornado swept through the rural community of Duette early Sunday morning.

Manatee County spokesman David Bristow said Steven Wilson, 58, and Kelli Wilson, 51, were killed just after 4 a.m. when a tornado destroyed their mobile home in northeastern Manatee County. Another adult, Steven M. Wilson, 38, and four children between the ages of 6 and 10 were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Duette is in northeastern Manatee County.
Credit Google Maps
Duette is in northeastern Manatee County.

Bristow said the three adults and four children were in the mobile home on Albritton Road when the tornado hit.  Steven Wilson died at the scene, and Kate Wilson was pronounced dead at the hospital. 

Steven M. Wilson and the two boys and two girls were taken to the hospital. On Sunday afternoon, the two girls were listed in serious condition, the two boys in stable condition, according to the Manatee Sheriff's Office. Three of the children are siblings, while the fourth, a girl, is a cousin.

Three adults and four children were inside the mobile home in Duette when a tornado struck early Sunday.
Credit Manatee County Sheriff's Office
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Manatee County Sheriff's Office
Three adults and four children were inside the mobile home in Duette when a tornado struck early Sunday.

Severe weather also damaged multiple homes in Sarasota County during the pre-dawn storm. At least one home in Siesta Key was destroyed and a woman had to be pulled from the wreckage by first responders. The Red Cross is on the scene there.

Other damage reports include roofs being blown off homes. The Sarasota Police Department reported minor flooding, downed power lines, downed trees and signs. Specifically, large trees were down between the 3200 and 3900 blocks of Central Ave.

And although the storm had passed, warnings remained hours after sunrise. The Florida Department of Transportation closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge due to high winds. It was reopened before 2 p.m.

And the National Weather Service office in Tampa issued a high surf warning until 10 p.m. Charlotte, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota and Pinellas Counties. A wind advisory is also in place until 4 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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WUSF Staff