TAVARES, Fla. — A tornado damaged at least three buildings Wednesday afternoon in Tavares, the Tavares Fire Department said.
Firefighters said they were called to reports of an explosion, but they quickly determined a possible tornado touched down near a Winn-Dixie store on East Burleigh Boulevard.
"This event caused a warehouse-type building to collapse, along with some damage to the Winn-Dixie and (the) fence line of Lake Frances Estates," the agency said in a Facebook post.
[ Photos: Tavares storm damage ]
“Suddenly there was this violent shaking of everything,” said Jim Jordan, owner of the Fish Camp Lake Eustis restaurant. “We looked at each other wide-eyed and thought, ‘What's that? It's either the end of the world, or it is a tornado.’”
The tornado ripped a hole right through the roof. Eighty people were inside at the time.
“The funny part about it is that we were going to the interior part of the restaurant, but that is actually where it ripped a hole in the roof,” Jordan said.
[ Watch: Tornado touches down along Lake Eustis in Tavares ]
No one in the restaurant was hurt. The community is coming together to help the restaurant. Jordan said he hopes to reopen soon.
The National Weather Service said Wednesday evening that the storm was indeed an EF0 tornado.
The Tavares Police Department posted photos of the tornado and the damage on Facebook.
Police said the severe weather wouldn't hinder the city's Independence Day parade and fireworks display.
[ Read: Beach, BBQ & fireworks forecast: Tracking your 4th of July ]
"Tavares had a little damage from the storm," the agency said in the post. "Our guys and girls are out working and are looking forward to seeing y’all tonight."
Duke Energy said almost 2,000 customers had experienced a power outage because of downed power lines.
No one was injured.