Moment hurricane-force winds tear roof off business in Florida amid Tropical Storm Elsa
- The wild footage shows the roof being torn off Cannon’s Towing at 4:49 p.m. local time on Thursday
- The footage was taken by another business around the corner, video surveillance company Secur-Net USA
- It happened at the same time National Weather Service reports show tropical storm Elsa tearing through Duval County, Florida
- Cannon’s Towing is a local and family-owned business that has been in business for 61 years
- Members of the family who own the business told the outlet that they were ‘heartbroken’ after the roof suffered the incredible damage
The moment when hurricane-force winds tore the roof off a Jacksonville business was caught on nearby surveillance video as tropical storm Elsa hit Florida on Thursday.
The wild footage shows the roof being torn off Cannon’s Towing at 4:49 p.m. local time on Thursday and dumping debris along Richard Street with pieces of the roof found hanging off a nearby cell tower, NBC News reported.
The footage was taken by another business around the corner, video surveillance company Secur-Net USA, at the same time National Weather Service reports show tropical storm Elsa tearing through Duval County, Florida.
The moment when hurricane-force winds tore the roof off a Jacksonville business was caught on nearby surveillance video
The wild footage came as tropical storm Elsa hit Florida on Thursday
The roof can be sign on the footage flying in the air as the storm hit Florida
The video also shows other debris like fences flying in the air
The footage was taken by another business around the corner, video surveillance company Secur-Net USA
Secur-Net USA owner Jim Youngblood told WTLV that he was thankful members of his staff were not hurt in the storm
Secur-Net USA owner Jim Youngblood told WTLV that he was thankful members of his staff were not hurt in the storm.
‘We saw it coming down the street and hunkered down,’ Youngblood said. ‘Always grateful nobody was injured as there were employees in the building at the time. The business was built to withstand a Category 3 hurricane so it’s pretty beefed up.’
Cannon’s Towing is a local and family-owned business that has been in business for 61 years, WJAX-TV reported.
Members of the family who own the business told the outlet that they were ‘heartbroken’ after the roof suffered the incredible damage.
‘I’m still in shock, I don’t think it’s really hit us,’ Brittani Phillips said.
Photos posted to the nearby business Crossfit Total Control West also showed damage to the roof of a building
Crossfit Total Control West posted that the gym sustained some roof damage but nothing structural that would close it
A woman holds part of a sign for Crossfit Total Control West that was damaged in the storm
Phillips, whose late grandfather started the business, told WJAX-TV that the community outreach after the storm has been ‘overwhelming’ whilke the business works to reopen.
‘Luckily, we work as a unit and we have everybody here,’ Phillips said. ‘Everyone is putting their hands together lets see what we can do and try to get back fully operational as soon as possible.’
She added: ‘Everyone here is considered family and just to see this is heartbreak and something so personal and so close, that hits home a lot.’
‘Any day we’re above ground is a blessing so that’s the way we have to look at it,’ Phillips said.
Philips showed WJAX-TV where the air conditioning unit was ripped out and said the business now has ‘trees in the warehouse.’
Secur-Net USA employee Wayne Griffin told the outlet that his car window was cracked from the flying debris and that he had to find cover when the storm came through.
‘I heard like, loud fireworks, cannon blast and transformers blowing,’ Griffin said.
‘Mother Nature…don’t mess with, that little, short minute that came through here did a lot of damage.’