EF-3 tornado confirmed in Bertie County; 6 football fields wide
BERTIE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - The National Weather Service says an EF-3 tornado slammed into a Bertie County mobile home park, killing two people and injuring a dozen others. The tornado was rated as having between 140 and 145 mile per hour winds and at its strongest point was as wide as 600 yards.
The initial touchdown happened near the intersection of Knowles Lane and Middle Track Road, just a few miles south of Woodard in Bertie County. As the tornado moved northwest it continued to strengthen and widen resulting in the following damage report from the National Weather Service.
A tornado during a hurricane isn’t rare, but a tornado this strong is extremely rare and unusual. In the last 15 years only 3 tornadoes have been rated as an EF-3 when associated with a tropical system.
Estimated Time of Touchdown: 1:15 am
Total Track Length: 10 miles
Max Wind Speed: 140-145 mph
Max Path Width: 600 yards
AUGUST 4TH STORY
Two children and their mother who were believed to have been missing after a tornado destroyed a mobile home park all have been found safe.
Bertie County Sheriff John Holley said it turns out the children were not in the area and their mother was at work when the storm hit.
Two people were killed and 20 others injured when county officials say a tornado spawned from Hurricane Isaias struck the park on Morning Road in the Cedar Landing community.
The sheriff said everyone is now accounted for.
Some ten to twelve mobile homes were destroyed, while only two were left standing, the sheriff said. Vehicles were tossed on top of each other and valuables were strewn about the area.
The National Weather Service will have meteorologists at the site on Wednesday to gauge the size of the tornado.
Those wishing to get a status update about a family member who is missing should call 252-794-6144 and provide the missing persons’ name and their contact number to county staff.
ORIGINAL STORY
Two people are now confirmed dead after county officials say a tornado ripped through a mobile home park outside of Windsor early Tuesday morning.
Sheriff John Holley says a second body was recovered this morning. He said three people, including two children, are still missing while 20 people were injured.
Fire officials told us around 2:30 a.m. Hurricane Isaias destroyed multiple trailers on Morning Road in the Cedar Landing community.
Holley says there is an active search going on and they are hoping to find the missing people alive. The search area encompasses Woodard Road and Morning Road areas which is also known as “The Neck”.
Roughly ten to twelve mobile homes were destroyed, while only two were left standing, the sheriff said. Vehicles were tossed on top of each other and valuables were strewn about the area.
The National Weather Service will have meteorologists at the site on Wednesday to gauge the size of the tornado.
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