Strong storms swept through Brevard County on Thursday, damaging at least 20 homes and toppling dozens of trees in areas including Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, and Palm Bay. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the region earlier in the day, prompting residents to seek shelter before the storms intensified in the late afternoon. "It was like a war zone out there," said one homeowner in the 2100 block of South Harbor Drive, describing shattered windows and uprooted oaks blocking roads. Emergency crews responded to multiple calls for assistance, with Brevard County Fire Rescue reporting three structural fires linked to downed power lines. Power outages affected over 15,000 residents, according to Florida Power & Light. The storms, which produced wind gusts up to 65 mph, also flooded several low-lying neighborhoods near the Indian River. Local officials urged residents to avoid flooded areas and report damaged trees to the county’s 311 hotline. Meteorologists predict another round of thunderstorms could hit the Space Coast by Saturday, though they expect less severe conditions than Thursday’s event. The county has opened temporary shelters for displaced residents, and damage assessments are ongoing. "This is a reminder of how vulnerable our community is to extreme weather," said Brevard County Commissioner Barbara Peters. "We need to prepare for more of these events as climate patterns shift."