Initial Edition 08:30 4/17
Revised 09:00 4/17
Revised 14:00 4/17
Revised 15:45 4/17
Revised 16:00 4/17
Revised 19:15 4/17
Revised 22:00 4/17
Revised 07:00 4/18
Revised 16:00 4/18
Revised 08:00 4/19
Revised 18:00 4/19
Revised 21:30 4/19
Revised 20:00 4/22 Just a note to reflect that the response period is over and no further entries will be made on this particular entry.
The follow on article of this blog will be the North Carolina Tornadoes 2011 -Recovery
President Declares parts of North Carolina a disaster area. Breaking news being reported now onhttp://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=8082131
North Carolina Tornadoes 2011 - Response
During the afternoon of April 16, 2011, a swath of severe weather swept across North Carolina, with areas hardest impacted being east of US 1. The initial report, suggested at least 62 tornadoes struck the state leaving damage in 20 of the state's 100 counties. As of this afternoon (4/19) the number has been revised to 25 tornadoes produced by 12 supercell thunderstorms with five of the tornadoes being identified as EF3 in intensity. The damage is reported now in 32 of the states 100 counties. A disaster declaration has been submitted for 18 of the hardest hit counties; Bertie, Bladen, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Wake and Wilson counties.
According to the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, 22 were killed in the series of tornadoes in North Carolina (Saturday 4/16). While several reports, WRAL the morning of the 17th and NBC 17 which initially reported more deaths, at this point, both have revised their report of fatalities down to 22 by16:00 4/17. http://www2.nbc17.com/weather/2011/apr/16/129/another-round-storms-heading-towards-central-nc-ar-951325/ A number of news outlets during their evening broadcasts 18:00 4/18 are reporting 23 fatalities but at this point there is nothing confirming that number and no articles posted online. (Editorial note, I can only add up 21 based on the confirmed reports, but various news stations are still reporting 23 at this time.) At 14:00 4/19, the six month old infant critically injured in Wake County succumbed to her injuries and died increasing the death toll to 24 as being reported now by various news outlets.
New York Times 4/19/2011 Quote of the day . . .
"All of the sudden I heard the screech, like when nails get pulled out of wood, and that really loud roar. We closed our eyes and when we woke up again we were outside."
Historically, hurricanes are the greatest meteorological threat to North Carolinians. While tornadoes in North Carolina are typically less intense and fewer in numbers than states in the midwest, this was clearly a horrific meteorological event.
Not since the March 1984 Tornadoes (which occurred at night and killed 57 over the Carolinas, 42 in North Carolina alone) have such widespread death and devastation struck North Carolina from tornadoes and associated storms. 220,000+ homes were listed as being without power shortly after the storms passed. http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/04/16/1087211?sac=Home
Six Urban Search and Rescue Teams were deployed Sunday across the state as more were either missing or unaccounted for by friends/families.
Shelters open at this time include: http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=8077544
Stories have been told of heroism from everyday citizens such as the employee at Lowes Home Improvement store in Sanford. Seeing the oncoming storm (he/she) alerted shoppers through the overhead intercom and directed them to a safer part of the store just before the tornado struck, destroying more than half of the store. No fatalities were reported at the store despite the widespread damage and how busy the store was on a Saturday afternoon.
Incredible reports of lifesaving, search and rescue efforts on behalf of emergency responders have emerged from Wake County and Harnett County. However, knowing responders in much of this state, it is less surprising and more confirming of their skills and professionalism I've seen before from them. And, while that is only two counties, this could be said for the areas impacted as well based on what I know of those areas, I just can't confirm it with quotes or reports currently posted online from news sources.
Several Select Counties:
http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/One_Confirmed_Death_In_Bertie_County_Possibility_Of_Others.html?storySection=comments
11 Are now reported to have been killed in Bertie County. http://www.wral.com/weather/story/9455587/
Several of those killed were in an Assisted Living Facility. (facility and actual number not identified.) (Based on the address and a cross reference of Assisted Living Facilities Index, this was Moore's Family Care Home (either #1 or #2) http://www.retirenet.com/community/26874-moores-family-care-home/
The Assisted Living Facility was on Morris Ford Road in Colerain, and according to the County Manager, Zee Lamb, "one or more of the fatalities were at a local assisted living facility".
Much of the damage in Bertie County occurred between the communities of Askewville and Colerain, killing 11 and destroying 68 structures.
The eleven who lost their lives include:
— Louis Chamblee, 54, Colerain.
— Gayle Hinchey, 56, Colerain.
— Barbara Lafferty, 64, Colerain
— Roy Lafferty Jr. 72, Colerain.
— Peggy Leary, 60, Colerain.
— Dorothy Mitchell, 66, Colerain.
— Robert Perry, 77, Colerain.
— Milton Sutton, 51, Colerain.
— Mildred Warren, 68, Colerain.
— Celia White, 96, Colerain.
— Helen Alston White, 90, Colerain.
— Gayle Hinchey, 56, Colerain.
— Barbara Lafferty, 64, Colerain
— Roy Lafferty Jr. 72, Colerain.
— Peggy Leary, 60, Colerain.
— Dorothy Mitchell, 66, Colerain.
— Robert Perry, 77, Colerain.
— Milton Sutton, 51, Colerain.
— Mildred Warren, 68, Colerain.
— Celia White, 96, Colerain.
— Helen Alston White, 90, Colerain.
Bladen County - (Updated 18:00 4/18) Previous links deleted. Four are now confirmed dead in Bladen County. Three in Ammon; Mark Avery 92, Tony Avery 50, and Darleen Zupo 53, all were off Hwy 242 at Fayetteville Rd with Tony Avery succumbing to his injuries after being transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. All were in a mobile home that was destroyed. A fourth person, Brian Baptist 50 died in Bladenboro after being "thrown against a tree" (as the tornado passed) who at the Britt's Mobile Home Park.
Cumberland, Hoke and Sampson Counties - (update 08:00 4/19) reported that one person was killed on Vault Field Road in the town of Linden Cumberland County. There is also a report that 85 were transported to the Cape Fear Valley Hospitals for their injuries. http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/04/16/1087211?sac=Home http://www.wral.com/weather/story/9455587/ Dorothy Chambers 82, of Vault Field Road was killed when a tornado struck her house. She was there with her 78 year old husband, and her 47 year old daughter in their home when "the house began to shake and spin like a scene out of the Wizard of Oz. The Sky got dark and all of a sudden the floor started lifting up."
This tornado destroyed 167 homes, and left another 144 damaged. The damage was caused by an EF3 tornado. This tornado is believed to have originated in nearby Hoke County, came across Cumberland County and ended in Harnett County. A second tornado, and EF2 began in SE Cumberland County and ended in Sampson County.
Greene County - (updated 19:30 4/18) 150 homes damaged and the Greene County Middle School was destroyed following the tornadoes. There were no reports of serious injury.
Harnett County - Johnston County - (updated 18:00 4/18)
[Although there were early reports of one fatality in the Dunn/Johnston County area (Dunn is not in Johnston Co) there is nothing being reported at this time and that number and the source is now removed.]
Johnston Memorial Hospital reported treating 55 injuries following the disaster. Damage thus far appears to be in the area of $4.5 million. Damage in the Micro and Four Oaks communities bore the brunt of the damage and the numbers appear to suggest 100+ structures are damaged.
A FoodLion Distribution Center, a massive facility on US Hwy 301 was damaged and ammonia was reported leaking from the damage.
The damage in Harnett County is believed to have been the result of a tornado that originated in Hoke County and was an EF3. The tornado in Johnston County was an EF1.
The death in Dunn is reported to be Juan Garcia Sanchez.
Lee County - (updated 18:00 4/18) Two were reported to have been killed in Sanford, Lee County near where the tornado struck the Lowes Home Improvement Store. This tornado, was determined by the NWS as an F3, originated in Lee County, and headed north through the edge of Chatham County and swept across Wake County causing much of the damage there. http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/apr/16/possible-tornado-kills-2-lee-co-damages-sanford-lo-ar-954571/
Based on an a report on WTVD, the Lowes manager, Mike Hollowell, used the overhead paging system to direct approximately 50 employees and 60 customers to the safest part of the building "it was so tight that you couldn't move with everybody in the hallway, we got as close as we could" . . .they had a plan, they had practiced their plan and it saved lives! GREAT STORY! (it was reported 4/18 that President Obama had phoned Mr. Hollowell to offer praise for his actions, again, this is a great story worth repeating and reminding us of the importance of disaster preparedness/planning.) http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=8078723
An industrial plant; Static Control was "leveled".
One fatality occurred in a home on Rice Rd east of Sanford, the second was a motorist on Rocky Fork Church Road near Lemon Springs. (names were not released.)
Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, reported seeing 35 patients after the storm.
This tornado, originated in Moore County, crossed Lee County, through the corner of Chatham County, entered Wake County and ended in Franklin County as an EF3 most of the time.
The dead are reported to be Michael Chambers of Brookhaven Drive Sanford was killed when his car was struck by a falling tree while driving in Lemon Springs. Alan Hunter also 43, of Watsons Nursery Lane in Sanford, died when his mobile home was heavily damaged.
Person County (update 08:00 4/19) Scene of the first confirmed tornado touchdown in the series of storms (although Rowan, Davie and Davidson have what may have also been an EF0 strike of a tornado/tornadoes) . No serious injuries were reported and damage details were not in the reports reviewed thus far. The Person County Tornado was an EF2.
Wake County (update 18:00 4/19)- reported that three were killed at Stony Brook North, a mobile home park in northeast Raleigh. http://www.wral.com/weather/story/9455587/
The three killed were: Kevin Coronado 3 years old, Osvaldo Coronado 8 years old, Daniel Quistan Nino 9 years old, and a 4th child is in critical condition with a severe head injury; Yaire Quistian Nino 6 month old.
Shaw University was damaged significantly in the Raleigh area, has closed and students have been told to go home, the balance of the semester including finals, has been canceled.
This particular tornado was rated as EF3 and originated in Moore County near Lee County.
An estimated 63 homes in Raleigh were destroyed and another 184 suffered major damage. The estimated damage is between $3 and $5 million.
Update 19:00 damage could reach $100 million,http://www.wral.com/weather/story/9461448/
The fourth child, Yaire Quistian Nino 6 month old is reported to have died this afternoon, 4/19.
At least 851 homes sustained minor damage in addition to the initial numbers reported.
Wilson County (updated 08:00 4/19) Touchdown of an EF2 in Wilson County with damage reports varying at this point.
Womack Army Medical Center lost power and was on generator back up power. Power was be restored to much of Fort Bragg by midday 4/17.
State officials also activated the Governor’s Hotline Tuesday. People who want to volunteer or donate goods can call toll free (888) 835-9966. The hotline will be staffed daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Tornadoes in North Carolina from 1950-1995
(Updated 4/17 18:00)According to a source that is validated but not for public distribution, damage has been reported in the following counties:
Beaufort
Bladen (with state of emergency currently in place)
Craven
Currituck
Dare
Cumberland (with state of emergency currently in place)
Duplin
Greene (with state of emergency currently in place)
Halifax (with state of emergency currently in place)
Hertford
Hoke
Onslow (with state of emergency currently in place)
Person
Pender (with state of emergency currently in place)
Pitt
Robeson (with state of emergency currently in place)
Sampson (with state of emergency currently in place)
Harnett (with state of emergency currently in place)
Johnson (with state of emergency currently in place)
Lee
Northampton
Wake (with state of emergency currently in place)
Wilson (with state of emergency currently in place)
Alamance
Caswell
Rockingham
Rowan
As of 18:00 4/17
Six (6) Urban Search and Rescue Teams currently deployed.
Four (4) HazMat Teams currently deployed.
For initial NWS raw data from eastern North Carolina click here:
The top image is from the National Weather Service. All other pictures are from WRAL and all rights to those images remain with those who posted the images. Their use here is through "the fair use doctrine" and intended for educational purposes only.
Also added several YouTube links to the damage as it unfolded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUNsD63XIts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0miqGC5kL8
Shaw University being damaged . . .
For more information regarding the 1984 Tornadoes that killed 57 and occurred after dark,
For more information regarding tornadoes from North Carolina State University:
Enhanced Fujita tornado ratings based on wind speed:
EF-0 65-85 mph
EF-1 86-110 mph
EF-2 111-135 mph
EF-3 136-165 mph
EF-4 166-200 mph
EF-5 200 mph+
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