‘Mayhem and destruction’: Crews digging for ‘signs of life’ in St. Lucie County

Search dogs are sniffing for signs of life Friday in the tornado-ravaged community of Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County, where at least six people were killed earlier this week.

In an interview with WPTV News journalist Victor Jorges on Friday, Sheriff Keith Pearson described the neighborhood as “mayhem and destruction” with “unstable conditions.”

“It’s just complete devastation in there. And trying to go through all of that rubble safely and quickly. We’re yelling out, looking for signs of life. We have dogs out there sniffing,” Pearson said. “This is gonna be a long process. But we’re gonna do everything we possibly can to help those residents.”

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Pearson said the Florida National Guard is assisting the sheriff’s office on Friday with its search and rescue mission, digging through 12-to-15-foot piles of debris, including couches, televisions, and residents’ personal possessions.

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