North Carolina Teams Assess Tornado-affected Counties

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley dispatched damage assessment teams comprised of state and local officials to Jones and Bertie counties to begin the process of assessing damage from the storm that swept through the area on May 11. The Jones team also will assess the damage in Onslow County.

“The evaluations of the damage assessment teams are important to the recovery of communities that have suffered damage and to help people start to get their lives back to normal,” Easley said. “I remind everyone to be cautious and not put themselves or others at risk by avoiding downed power lines, flooded roads, rain-swollen waterways and other areas of potential danger.”

As many as 16 tornadoes were reported to have moved through the eastern part of the state on May 11. At least six people in Onslow County received minor injuries when a tornado hit Maysville and Belgrade late in the afternoon. Officials say nine people received injuries and some were transported to the hospital in Bertie County.

In Bertie County, there are reports of 34 homes with roof and other damage and four mobile homes destroyed. In Jones and Onslow counties, several homes were damaged and one business was destroyed.

Officials reported that as many 5,000 people along the coast were without power, but crews had restored service to all but 100 people in Onslow County by Monday morning.

Late on May 8 and early May 9, tornadoes swept through three other North Carolina counties: Guilford, Forsyth, and Davie.

At least one person is dead and at least three others were injured after what law enforcement officers said was a tornado that touched down near Interstate 40 and Sandy Ridge Road in Greensboro May 8.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said the storm blew several tractor-trailers off Interstate 40 but could not confirm the number. A section of I-40 was briefly closed due to the accidents and to remove damaged vehicles and debris. The interstate was re-opened by 9 a.m. on May 9.

There were several reports of fallen trees and downed power lines. Central and western parts of the state were hardest hit by the storms. Duke Energy reported more than 900 customers in Guilford County and nearly 7,000 customers in Forsyth County were without power. Davie County had more than 6,000 customers without power.

Source: Office of the Governor of North Carolina