10 years after deadly Sanford tornado, residents nervous when severe weather in the forecast

By Bryan Mims, WRAL reporter

Sanford, N.C. — On April 16, 2011, more than 25 tornadoes touched down in North Carolina.

One tornado blazed a path of destruction from Sanford to Raleigh — more than 40 miles away.

Thursday’s storms are not expected to be as widespread, but it’s possible central North Carolina could see tornadoes of similar strength.

An EF-3 tornado, with winds up to 160 miles an hour, destroyed the Lowes in Sanford before drilling north towards Raleigh.

Everybody inside the Lowe’s made it through safely with just a few minor injuries. Just before the tornado hit Lowe’s, Sheila Stevens received an automated call from WRAL News on her phone.

“[The message said] that I was in imminent danger. That a storm was coming and I needed to seek cover immediately,” recounted Stevens.

Stevens lives in the Saint Andrews neighborhood a couple miles from Lowe’s. She said after receiving the phone call, she crouched in a bedroom closet.

“I had my little dog with me, Lucky, a three pound Chihuahua,” said Stevens. “We could hear it, like nails hitting the house [for] about a minute. You never know how long it is.”

When she emerged, the houses around her were torn, tattered and trashed.

“The entire second floor of that house was gone,” described Stevens.

Six people were killed in the Sanford to Raleigh tornado.

Houses around Stevens’ were damaged beyond repair. New houses now stand, but everyone besides Stevens and her husband has since moved away.

Now, whenever severe weather is in the forecast, Stevens said she gets nervous.

“I get a little anxious. I get a little shaky. I get a stomachache,” she added.

In total, 24 people were killed in the tornados of April 16, 2011. Hundreds of homes were destroyed and thousands were damaged.

In total, 24 people were killed in the tornados of April 16, 2011. Hundreds of homes were destroyed and thousands were damaged.