Home security camera captures EF-2 tornado ripping through Longwood neighborhood | FOX 35 Orlando
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Home security camera captures EF-2 tornado ripping through Longwood neighborhood

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Published  March 11, 2025 12:25pm EDT
Severe Weather
FOX 35 Orlando

Home video shows tornado rip up backyard in Longwood

An EF2 tornado touched down Monday in Seminole County, north of Orlando, damaging homes, and toppling trees and powerlines. Don Shenoy lives in Longwood, where the suspected tornado damaged several homes. Sheney shared surveillance video which shows the moment the tornado moved through, topping trees and a basketball hoop.

The Brief

    • A powerful EF-2 tornado, with winds reaching 120 mph, tore through a Longwood neighborhood, causing significant damage but no reported injuries. 
    • Homeowner Don Shenoy, whose security camera captured the twister, took shelter in his hurricane room and felt fortunate that his home sustained only minor damage compared to others.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A powerful tornado was caught on a home security camera Monday morning as it ripped through a Longwood neighborhood.

Caught on camera

Take a Look:

Footage from Don Shenoy's home captured the EF-2 twister's loud winds as they ripped down tree branches and sent debris flying across the yard. 

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Homeowner left uninjured "I do feel spared"

Local perspective:

Shenoy, who was uninjured, told FOX 35's Kelsie Cairns that he immediately took shelter in his hurricane room upon receiving the tornado alert. The hurricane room has automatic shutters and a generator. 

"We went into our safe room and in about 15 to 20 seconds there was complete destruction all the way around", Shenoy said.

Tornado rips through Longwood neighborhood, residents react

A tornado ripped through a Longwood neighborhood Monday morning. FOX 35's Kelsie Cairns was live in the neighborhood talking to residents.

Shenoy luckily only lost most of his trees and the screen around his pool, unlike some of his neighbors whose homes were destroyed. He says he feels spared that his home suffered minimal damage. 

LAKE MARY TORNADO | FOX 35 COVERAGE

Tornado hits FOX 35 studios

The same tornado later moved across I-4 striking the FOX 35 studios in Lake Mary.

Video: Tornado hits FOX 35 TV Studios in Lake Mary

An EF2 tornado touched down in Lake Mary, Florida, on Monday morning with peak winds of 155 mph, comparable to a Category 2 or 3 hurricane. FOX 35 was on the air when the tornado likely was found on our cameras. FOX 35 Meteorologist Brooks Garner led Orlando views -- and the station -- through the storm. Here are four views of the storm from FOX 35 cameras.

By the numbers:

According to the National Weather Service Office in Melbourne, Florida, the tornado measured 300 yards wide and remained on the ground for more than four miles, with peak winds reaching 120 mph.

Although no injuries have been reported, the storm caused significant damage, collapsing at least one home and damaging several others.

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The Source: The information in this article comes from reporting done by FOX 35's Kelsie Cairns, Don Shenoy and the National Weather Service.

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