Stay tuned in to our local news coverage: Listen to 90.7 WMFE on your FM or HD radio, the WMFE mobile app or your smart speaker — say “Alexa, play NPR” and you’ll be connected.

Polk County officials meet later this week to come up with a recovery plan after an EF-2 tornado hit the area Friday night. 

The county has already identified sixty homes that sustained major damage or that were completely destroyed by the storm’s 120 mph winds. 

Polk County Emergency Manager Paul Womble says he only expects this number to continue to rise.

“We’re still somewhere between 50 and 100 homes and businesses that will end up classified as major or destroyed.”

Womble says he’s seen a wide range of damage at residential properties, from missing shingles to caved-in roofs from fallen trees. 

He says residents should collect and sort their debris on the side of the road for the county to collect starting today.  

The KHS family would like to say thank you to all those who came out today to donate items. The outpouring of support came from as far away as Tampa. Donations will be distributed amongst the community and those directly affected by the tornado.

Mr. Jackson, Principal pic.twitter.com/0aQN0tCeU1

— Kathleen High School (@KHSRedDevils) October 21, 2019

He says he’s also seen considerable damage to commercial warehouses along I-4 and at Kathleen Middle School. 

“Kathleen Middle School-the school board-announced no classes there today or tomorrow. I know they’re doing assessments. Not only did they have roof damage but once the roof opened up water got in from the rain.”

He recommends people contact their insurance company to file any claims.

The Polk Recovery After Disaster group will meet on Wednesday to come up with a formal tornado recovery plan.

If you’d like to listen to the story, click on the clip above.