FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) – Several people died Wednesday afternoon after up to a dozen tornadoes ripped through a Fort Pierce community.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed deaths at the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village on Spanish Lakes Boulevard, but did not provide an exact number of those who died.

In an interview, Pearson said his deputies and state emergency responders will go door-to-door in the community, which is off Turnpike Feeder Road west of Route 1, to conduct search and rescue operations. In total, more than 100 people are looking for those who may be trapped.

“This is like nothing else we’ve ever seen,” Pearson added, going on to describe a scene in which between six and 12 confirmed high-level tornadoes ripped through the area in a 20-minute period.

The neighborhood where the sheriff was when he spoke to CBS12 News was full of modular homes and Pearson said the storms went right through them. He said homes and businesses were destroyed.

“All we can do is search the area. Check the residences and if there is anyone in the residences, we will work our way through the storm to get them out,” Pearson promised.

In addition to support from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol, the National Guard is also on site.

See also:GALLERY: Join us and send your storm videos and photos to CBS12 News

Pearson also described the SLCSO hangar as a total loss after a possible tornado ripped through the building.

In an earlier statement, Pearson said the 10,000-square-foot facility was destroyed in seconds by what he called a “devastating tornado.”

An SLCSO spokesman explained that the steel structure houses their vehicles. Pearson estimated that replacing the hangar would cost millions of dollars.

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