Multiple people were killed Wednesday afternoon after as many as a ripped through a Fort Pierce community.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed deaths at Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, on Spanish Lakes Boulevard, but did not provide a specific number of people that have died.

In an interview, Pearson explained that his deputies and state emergency crews will go door-to-door at the 55+ community, which sits off Turnpike Feeder Road, west of Route 1, to conduct search and rescue operations. In all, more than 100 people are looking for people who may be trapped.

"This is like nothing other we've seen," Pearson added, as he went on to describe a scene where between six and 12 confirmed high-strength tornadoes tore through the area within a span of 20 minutes.

The neighborhood where the Sheriff was when he spoke with CBS12 News was filled with modular homes and Pearson said the storms went right through them. He said homes and commercial businesses were destroyed.

"Every possible thing we can do is being done to search the area. Check the residences and, if there is anyone inside the residences, we're going to work through the storm to get them out," Pearson pledged.

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

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 was destroyed in a matter of seconds by what he called a "devastating tornado."

An SLCSO spokesperson explained the steel structure housed their vehicles. Pearson estimated it would take millions of dollars to replace the hangar.