As Hurricane Milton hit Florida, the Avenir neighborhood in Palm Beach Gardens faced unexpected destruction. An industrial dumpster, usually weighing between two and six tons, was lifted by tornado winds and landed on a newly-purchased home. Homeowners Bonnie and John were inside when the storm struck, witnessing the surreal moment as the dumpster crashed through their roof, according to CBS12.
Just six days after buying their dream house, the couple faced this disaster. They took shelter in a bathroom with no windows, which turned out to be a lucky choice that kept them safe. Despite the shock and the heavy damage that followed, the couple told CBS12, "We're safe. The bottom line is that we got out okay."
Damage assessments in the community presented a grim picture, as recounted by Local 10 News. The Avenir Palm Beach Gardens community, stationed off Northlake Boulevard and Avenir Drive, was among the areas where the tornado left a significant imprint, not sparing the local infrastructure - including a new Publix store. Local 10 News reported that aside from the residential damages, commercial establishments within the Palm Beach Gardens development also sustained harm from the storm, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on the state's west coast.
Amid the chaos of nearly 40 confirmed tornadoes and over a hundred warnings across the state, the good news was that there were no fatalities in the neighborhood, as noted by CBS12. For Bonnie and John, the reality is now about rebuilding and staying strong after the storm. Even with a big hole in what was meant to be their safe haven, they feel lucky and grateful for their lives. As they said, "We'll be fine, thank you."
