BTN News: Tornadoes spawned by Tropical Storm Debby wreaked havoc across parts of North Carolina and South Carolina early Thursday, tearing through homes, damaging schools, and tragically claiming a life. In a matter of seconds, communities were plunged into chaos as powerful winds and heavy rains tore across the region, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Genesis Cooper, a resident of Lucama, North Carolina, experienced the full force of nature’s fury when a tornado ripped through his home in the dead of night. The twister, which took just 15 seconds to devastate the Cooper family’s house, serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and deadly nature of these storms. The family’s narrow escape was thanks to an alert on his wife’s phone that prompted them to take cover just moments before the tornado hit. The impact was so severe that Cooper described it as a “suction,” a force so intense that it felt like his ears were about to burst.
The tornado that struck Lucama was one of at least three reported in North Carolina overnight, and it was perhaps the most devastating. The aftermath left part of Cooper’s home in ruins—windows shattered, walls and sections of the roof torn away. Despite the extensive damage, Cooper remained calm and grateful that his family had survived, emphasizing that material possessions can be replaced, but lives cannot. This sentiment was echoed by many others who faced similar devastation throughout the night as the storm continued its relentless path.
In addition to the destruction of homes, Debby’s wrath was felt by the local school community. The Wilson County School Superintendent confirmed that Springfield Middle School suffered significant damage, with parts of the roof and walls of the sixth and seventh-grade hallways either completely gone or severely compromised. Drone footage captured the scene of devastation, showing sections of the school’s roof ripped away, leaving beams and ducts exposed to the elements. A section of the wall had collapsed onto the sodden grass, which was littered with twisted metal roofing and shredded insulation.
The threat of tornadoes persisted through the night in North Carolina and Virginia, with warnings issued for more than 17 million people across Washington D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The residents of these areas were on high alert, bracing for further possible destruction as Debby continued its journey inland.
The storm also caused the breach of a dam north of Fayetteville, North Carolina, early Thursday morning, adding to the chaos. The flooding prompted the evacuation of between 12 and 15 homes, although, fortunately, no injuries or further structural damage were reported. The quick response of local authorities ensured that residents were moved to safety before the situation could worsen.
Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina provided a briefing on the state’s response, confirming that additional National Guard troops had been activated and that more high-water vehicles had been deployed to assist with rescues in flood-prone areas. The governor’s proactive measures highlighted the seriousness of the situation as the state grappled with the widespread impacts of Debby.
Further south in Bladenboro, about 100 miles from Lucama, the storm left its mark as well. Local law enforcement shared images of a patrol car crushed by a fallen tree and roads that had been completely washed away. Floodwaters several feet deep submerged parts of the small town, a scene that repeated itself in various communities across the storm’s path. The residents of Bladenboro had spent the previous day filling sandbags in a desperate effort to protect their homes, but by Thursday morning, up to three feet of floodwaters had inundated the town center. The sight of water bubbling up through manhole covers as the sun rose only underscored the scale of the flooding.
As of late Thursday, Debby had weakened to a tropical depression, with maximum sustained winds of around 35 mph (55 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center. However, the damage had already been done. The storm first made landfall on Monday morning along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane before moving inland and striking South Carolina as a tropical storm early Thursday.
The death toll from Debby’s path of destruction stood at seven, a grim reminder of the storm’s power and unpredictability. And with more rain in the forecast for both North Carolina and South Carolina, the threat of additional flooding remained high. Meteorologists warned that as much as six more inches of rain could fall before Debby finally moved out of the region. Additionally, parts of Maryland, upstate New York, and Vermont were also expected to receive significant rainfall totals through the weekend, adding to concerns about widespread flooding.
Central North Carolina and Virginia were forecasted to receive between three and seven inches of rain, with isolated areas potentially seeing as much as ten inches by Friday. The National Hurricane Center issued warnings about the potential for flash floods, emphasizing the ongoing danger even as the storm weakened. Residents in the affected areas were urged to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to stay safe in the face of continuing severe weather.
As the storm’s immediate effects begin to recede, communities across the Carolinas are left to assess the damage and begin the long process of recovery. The destruction wrought by Debby is a sobering reminder of the ferocity of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of such powerful storms.
