EF-3 tornado hits Rocky Mount in North Carolina, injuring 15 people and causing significant damage, U.S.
A severe EF-3 tornado with winds of up to 225 km/h (140 mph) slammed Rocky Mount on Friday, September 27, 2024, in North Carolina, injuring 15 people and causing devastation at the Tiffany Square Shopping Center.
Image credit: Whuppss
- The tornado, which traveled 400 m (437 yards) in three minutes, was powered by the leftovers of Tropical Depression “Helene” which had previously caused widespread flooding in the region.
- In reaction to the devastation, Mayor Saunders Roberson Jr. proclaimed a state of emergency, kicking off recovery operations for affected residents and businesses.
A severe EF-3 tornado with peak speeds of 225 km/h (140 mph) ripped through the city of Rocky Mount (population 54 000) in Nash County, North Carolina, at around 19:31 UTC on Friday, September 27, causing substantial damage.
15 people who were injured were transported to UNC Health Nash, including four in serious condition.
A hospital spokesperson reported that two individuals suffered “major injuries,” while eight others were treated for minor injuries in the Emergency Department. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
The tornado caused considerable damage, particularly to the Tiffany Square Shopping Center.
“Friday is a heavy traffic day and this is a shopping center, and people are out here,” Rocky Mount Interim City Manager Peter Varney stated.
“Looks like the tornado came from Airport Road and jumped across the highway and into this shopping center area and down Tiffany Boulevard. It could have been a whole lot worse. Fifteen injuries is not what you want, but it’s not any worse than that.”
The tornado was brief but powerful. It measured 90 m (295 feet) wide, traveled 0.40 km (0.25 miles), and lasted only three minutes.
In total, fourteen structures were damaged, including businesses such as Respracare, Hing Ta Restaurant, and Alpha Automotive, where vehicles were thrown around by the tornado’s powerful winds.
Emergency response personnel were quickly mobilized to the affected neighborhoods. Later that evening, Mayor Saunders Roberson Jr. declared a state of emergency to manage recovery activities, until 21:00 UTC on Sunday, September 29, unless extended.
The EF-3 tornado that struck Rocky Mount on Friday was part of a larger storm system caused by Tropical Depression “Helene.” Helene had already triggered multiple tornado warnings and caused extensive flooding in western North Carolina, playing a significant role in the region’s extreme weather. As of early September 29, the death toll caused by Hurricane “Helene” in the United States exceeded 65.
By Friday evening, Helene had been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, with maximum sustained winds of 56 km/h (35 mph) as it moved across the Appalachian Mountains.
Damaging wind gusts continued throughout the night across the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
“Our community was impacted earlier today by a tornado and other storm-related damage.” Rocky Mount officials said, in a Facebook post. “Thank you to our first responders, RMFD and RMPD, NC Probation and Parole as well as other agencies (SHP and Nash County Emergency Services) for their quick action. Thank you to the Rocky Mount community for your support as we come together and work to rebuild.”
The Rocky Mount Fire Department and Nash County Emergency Management continue to survey the damage, and it will most likely take weeks or months to fully rebuild and recover from the catastrophe.
“A lot of devastation, my heart goes out to the families that were involved in this, the business owners as well too but we have a resilient group of people and we are definitely going to bounce back.” Rocky Mount Fire Department Chief Darvin Moore said.
References:
1 NWS: EF-3 tornado hits Rocky Mount; 15 injured, four seriously – WITN – September 27, 2024
2 United States – 15 people injured by tornado, 14 buildings damaged in Rocky Mount – EDIS – September 28, 2024
3 NWS confirms EF3 tornado hit Rocky Mount Friday; 15 injured, fire chief says – CBS 17 – September 27, 2024
4 Rocky Mount tornado’s winds topped 140 mph, NWS confirms – WNCT – September 28, 2024
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