Past storms show even smaller storms, hurricanes that pass by can cause damage
Florida bracing for what 'Erika' brings
History shows it doesn't take the direct blast of a hurricane to cause widespread damage.
Even a hurricane that turns can still leave a heavy punch from its outer edge winds, and often tropical storms cause widespread flooding and damage.
Tropical Storm Isaac dealt a heavy blow to the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast in 2012.
The storm spawned a tornado that tore apart a Vero Beach trailer park, bending homes into rubble.
It also caused a portion of Floresta Boulevard to collapse into a 15-foot muddy pit in Port St. Lucie.
Flooding on the Treasure Coast closed schools, roads and businesses.
Rural areas in Wellington and the Acreage in Palm Beach County were feet under water, and the water didn’t recede for days, stranding some residents in their homes.
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said one Wellington resident in the aftermath. “This is way worse than Hurricane Wilma. We didn’t get the winds, but we got the rain.”
Many homes lost shingles, trees fell on roofs, and driveways and roads were blocked by debris. The cleanup took weeks even though the storm blew by in a day.