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| North Carolina |
Authorities confirmed storm related deaths in Bertie, Cumberland, Harnett, Lee, Johnston and Bladen counties. The National Weather service has preliminary reports of 24 deaths caused by the storms.
Governor Bev Perdue said Saturday night their were at least 62 unconfirmed tornadoes causing damage in 20 North Carolina counties.
In Bertie County, deputies have reported 10 deaths in the area around Askewville. Bertie County is in the northeast corner of the state..
The town of Sanford in Lee County was hit hard around 3pm as the storms moved through. A Lowe's store was destroyed and other neighborhoods sustained heavy damage. There are reports of at least 2 deaths in Lee County.
Tornadoes were reported in Raleigh, Holly Springs, Roxboro, Fayetteville, downtown Wilson and Roanoke Rapids according to WRAL meteorologist Nate Johnson.
Emergency crews rescued a family in Person County that had taken shelter in their basement. They became trapped when a tree fell on their home.
Another tornado was reported in Fayettevile. Authorites said the storm ran through the Reilly Road corridor damaging homes, trees and power lines. A state of emergency has been issued for Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
In Selma, the storm system tore through an RV park causing significant damage.
SLIDESHOW - Images Of The Selma Damage
There are reports of three death in the Stony Brook North mobile home park in Raleigh. The Cardinal Grove subdivision in Raleigh was also it hard by a possible tornado, according to a WRAL viewer. Raleigh police are asking drivers to stay off the roads in these areas..
The National Weather Service had reports of tornadoes Saturday in Lee, Alamance and Person counties and near Raleigh. Much of the central part of the state was under a tornado warning for much of the day.
There were further reports of storm damage in Lee, Union, Caswell, Rowan, Johnston, Wayne, Guilford and Alamance counties, according to state public safety department spokeswoman Julia Jarema.
