Overnight storm causes damage in SWFL

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NAPLES, Fla.- Toppled trees, smashed cars, and lots of limbs on the ground.

People are still cleaning up after powerful storms rolled through Southwest Florida early Wednesday morning. Heavy rain and strong wind knocked out power to thousands of people. Collier County was hardest hit.

“I heard cracking and boom and I went back to sleep woke up this morning and the tree had fallen down.”

Neighbors describe waking up to an unusual sight. The overnight storm so intense, an SUV was smashed by a tree.

“It was just a crazy storm.”

WINK News viewers sent us pictures and video of the storm that really packed a punch bringing a lot of rain, wind, thunder and lightning.

“I heard a boom, boom, boom and I was like ‘what the heck was that?'” said Valerie Gates.

In Bonita Springs, a car port top was blown into a fence. A billboard was also damaged on US 41 and Park Shore in Naples.

“I looked out the front room and it was like a strobe light show, lightning everywhere, thunder everywhere,” said Gates.

Overnight, storms knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses in Southwest Florida.

“Every four seconds there was lightning up the whole place, but eventually went to sleep and got used to it.”

Residents tell WINK News, a Florida storm is something they are used too.

“I wish I could share it with California, sorry! I don’t mind it, I like it.”

FPL says workers are still out trying to repair power to those still without it.

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