Deadly Tornadoes Rip Through Eastern Part of State

We begin tonight with the deadly storms that hit eastern North Carolina early this morning.

Rebuilding efforts are underway after a tornado destroyed several homes in Wilson and Johnston Counties.

Two people are dead and one is injured. Six different reports of tornadoes touching down came from three counties this morning.

A preliminary survey from the National Weather Service says an F-2 in Johnston County and an F-3 in Wilson County caused the most damage.

In Wilson, a ten-year-old boy died when a tornado with wind exceeding 140 miles an hour hit his home.

The victim, Joshua Wiggins, lived here on London Church Road. The twister destroyed the house, leaving only remnants of the foundation.

And after the sun came up in Kenly, a town just south of the Wilson County line, the devastation became clear.

Downed trees, severely damaged property and an 18-wheeler with its trailer torn off lined the scene.

The same tornado that caused this damage also killed a woman, identified as Maryland Gomez.

Despite the devastation, emergency crews say people have pulled together.

Chief Paul Whitehurst with the Kenly Fire Department said, “Citizens have come up here, you know, in the face of tragedy, that’s times when everybody pulls together. You know we may have our differences, but when something like this happens, the community pulls together that’s what we’ll do to work through this.“

The extent of the damage is still unknown. Early reports say at least 10 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed in the Kenly area.

At one point this afternoon as many as 400 homes was without power in Kenly.

The Red Cross responded to help people forced out of their homes by the tornado. More help came from the North Carolina Baptist Men who are clearing debris in the area.