GULFPORT - As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2011, the National Weather Service has extended the tornado watch until 8 p.m. tonight. Which means we are not out of the storms path just yet.

Earlier today high winds knocked down a billboard onto the Oar House Bar & Liquor Store around 11:30 a.m. Employees say about four or five people were inside when the sign crashed down on the west side of the roof. They say no one was hurt.

Down the street the Gulfport Family Restaurant's sign was broken and scattered across 49th St. S. People there say no one was hurt. 

Debris and tree limbs are scattered and blown around the city. A newly planted tree at Veteran's Park was uprooted. City officials planted the tree in January as part of the annual Arbor Day celebration.

Low lying streets are flooding in Gulfport. You are urged not to drive on streets that are underwater.

CLEARWATER - No one was hurt when a hangar at the St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport collapsed and crushed two vehicles and one plane. Four other planes were overturned from the powerful winds.

The airport is at a standstill as Progress Energy works to restore power.

"Progress Energy assured us that we're their number one priority," Thomas Jewsbury, Deputy Airport Director, said.

All flights are grounded at the airport at least 2:30 p.m. Meanwhile, passengers are waiting at the airport. Officials are giving them food and water.

ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Units have responded to at least 115 "low priority" storm-related incidents in the city. Those calls account for downed power lines, tree's, arcing wires and other damage.

As of noon, Thursday, March 31, units reported several major storm-related calls, including a tractor-trailer truck blown over and a stalled elevator with passengers inside.

• Howard Frankland Bridge: Semi Tractor-Trailer blown over on its side by wind and on top of 2 vehicles.
• 1410 10th Ave.South: Tree fell on garage and power lines
• 216 49th St. South: Storm damage
• St. Pete Clearwater Airport: Multiple planes upside down
• 82nd Avenue and Blind Pass Road: High tension line down
• 1839 Central Ave.: Elevator rescue
• 2009 12TH St. South: Gas leak from gas water heater blown over.
• 4807 22nd Ave. South: Billboard blown into business causing roof damage and water in building
• 6820 Central Ave.: Residents trapped in elevator, rescued by firefighters
• Widespread reports of power lines down and storm damage.

LARGO - The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office's back-up radio tower collapsed around 11 a.m. just as a storm system passed through Largo.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, one leg of the tower 220-foot tower folded over at 11:00 a.m. The structure buckled causing the top of the structure to fold over, officials said.

The torrential rains also knocked down power line causing over 13,000 homes in Largo and the surrounding neighborhoods including Belleair Bluffs and High Point without power. Progress Energy reported at 4 p.m. that an estimated 13,740 in Largo. 

"Our crews have been working around the clock to restore power," said Cheri Jacobs, spokesperson for Progress Energy Florida. 

Jacobs said since crews were called they have restored 296,000 customers with power in their 35 county service area in Florida. 

For more information about tornado safety check out the Pinellas County Emergency Management website or call the main number at (727) 464-3800.