Lady Lake in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Groundhog Day Tornados Monument

Photographed by Dave W, March 30, 2023

1. Groundhog Day Tornados Monument Marker

Inscription.
On February 2, 2007, Lake County experienced one of its most devastating disasters. In addition to hundreds of damaged homes and millions of dollars in destruction, 21 individuals lost their lives in the communities of Lady Lake and Lake Mack. This monument is erected in memory of those that perished in the Groundhog Day Tornados.

Lady Lake Clarence Clarkson • Charles Gordon • Patricia Devere • Emily Halvorson • Albert Gantner • Bernice Marshall • Doris Gantner • Brittany May

Lake Mack Sandra Sue Baysinger • Donald Lamond • Carla Downing • Mary MacKinnon • David Downing • Jacob Nolan • Donald Downing • William Nolan • Ashleigh Flynn • Melinda Sluss • Sarah Flynn • Michael Sluss • Jamie L. Wright

“The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future."
Stephen Ambrose-American historian & biographer

Erected by The Communities of Lady Lake and Lake Mack.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is February 2, 2007.

Location. 28° 54.966′ N, 81° 55.338′ W. Marker is in Lady Lake, Florida, in Lake County. It

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can be reached from the intersection of U.S. 441 and West McClendon Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 106 US-441, Lady Lake FL 32159, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and monument is in Greater Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lady Lake Train Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Combat Wounded Veterans (approx. 2½ miles away); Ex-POW’s and M.I.A. Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); Veterans’ Memorial Park (approx. 2½ miles away); Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Casino (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lady Lake.

Also see . . .
1. New Report on Disaster.

Groundhog Day 2007 is one that many Central Floridians won’t soon forget.
Hours before sunrise, three tornadoes touched down in three different counties. Many people were asleep. This outbreak predated the Wireless Emergency Alerts that would now wake someone with the distinct emergency sound blaring from cell phones often kept on nightstands next to the bed. Unless there was a weather radio in the home, or someone was up with the TV on, there was no way to know there was a tornado nearby.

(Submitted on April 2, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado.)

2. National Weather Service Disaster Survey.

Synopsis:
A deadly tornado event occurred across
Photographed by Dave W, March 30, 2023

2. Groundhog Day Tornados Monument
the NWS Melbourne County Warning Area within Lake and Volusia Counties during the early morning hours of February 2, 2007. A discontinuous swath of damage was observed from the town of Lady Lake (Lake County) to New Smyrna Beach (Volusia County) - a distance of over 70 miles. A total of 21 fatalities occurred within Lake County.

(Submitted on April 2, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 590 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 2, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.