A week after an EF1 tornado tore through Ranchero Village, a manufactured home community in Largo, residents are still recovering — and watching the skies again as more rain is forecast for the Tampa Bay area in the days ahead.

“A lot of homes haven’t been tarped yet,” Carolyn Johnson, a Ranchero Village resident, explained to Spectrum News.

Johnson vividly recalls the moment the tornado touched down on June 25.

“Probably the scariest day of my life,” she said. “The funnel cloud was right outside my door, heading toward the house behind us that ended up so badly damaged.”

That same house was captured on a neighbor’s home surveillance video flipping onto its side during the storm.

“I think God was watching over that woman,” Johnson said. “No one should have survived that. When the firefighters arrived, they were shocked she was alive.”

One week later, the tornado’s path is still visible. Across several blocks, debris piles remain, siding hangs twisted from homes, and rooftops are missing. Largo Fire Rescue estimates the storm damaged about 50 homes in the neighborhood. Johnson said her home fared better than many others.

“One wall of my shed caved in, and all the windows in one of my bedrooms were blown out,” she said.

But in the aftermath, Johnson said the community has come together in a powerful way. She helped set up a donation station inside the neighborhood clubhouse to support those hit hardest by the storm.

“The donations came pouring in — toiletries, cleaning supplies, clothes, toilet paper, paper towels, bottled water — you name it,” she said. “It’s mostly neighbors helping neighbors.”

Local businesses have also stepped up. Wade Swikle, CEO of 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage, dropped off tarps he had stockpiled during last year’s hurricane season.

“We saw the viral videos of the tornado damage here and knew we had to help,” Swikle said. “It’s heartbreaking to see people — especially older folks — go through something like this.”

Johnson said donations are still being accepted at the Ranchero Village front gate. Items most in need include tarps, Ziploc bags, trash bags, and Amazon gift cards.

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