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Storm Causes Damage To Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

Okaloosa County experienced heavy rain and damage early Wednesday morning in what officials believe could be a tornado.

Credit Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

County spokesman Rob Brown said some areas were hit harder than others.  

“Our coastal communities, Destin, Mary Esther, Florosa, Wynn Haven Beach, Fort Walton Beach, those areas are seeing the most of the heaviest rains, most of the flooding in some of the roadways,” said Brown.

He said Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther were the places that received most of the damage this morning.

The area is still under tornado watch as Tropical Storm Cindy moves through the Gulf of Mexico. Officials are expecting about five inches of rain throughout the rest of the day and into the evening.

Brown said the county received 200-300 percent of its traditional rainfall amount in the last month alone, and that’s contributing to the amount of flooding the area is seeing.

“The most important thing we’re doing is just trying to making sure our residents are aware of the threats from the storm still which are obviously flooding,” Brown said. “We want to make sure they understand how to look out for these pop ups… and then of course keep an eye on tornados.”

Until the tornado warning is over, Brown advises everyone to stay inside to avoid pop up storms and debris. 

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Morgan Danford