Storms tear through Central NC, tornado damages distribution facility in Orange Co.

By Cory Dinkel, WRAL multiplatform producer and Leslie Moreno, WRAL multimedia journalist

Mebane, N.C. — Severe storms, including a tornado in Orange County, caused damage Friday evening across central North Carolina.

Three buildings in Orange County sustained damage from heavy winds that could have been the result of a tornado, according to Orange County leaders.

While it is not a confirmed tornado by the NWS, Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders said several callers to 911 reported seeing a funnel cloud. WRAL’s Mike Maze also said what he picked up on radar was consistent with a tornado.

Orange County 911 leaders said they received calls about a potential tornado at 5:18 p.m. from the Gildan Distribution Center on 7110 E. Washington Street in Mebane.

30 people were trapped inside the Gildan distribution center when the wall was knocked down by high winds.

Everyone is okay, but certainly a scary moment for those 30 employees who were inside the building. The damage is mostly to the side of the building and luckily all 30 employees were working on the other side Friday.

Ricky Regan had just made it home from work when he received a call that the tornado touched down.

“I was told it was a touchdown,” said Regan “From there it went up and when it did it took part of the building with it.”

Employees heard the loud rumbles and strong winds. Luckily, they were working on the opposite side of the building and no one was injured.

Regan says he’s worked in the area for 27 years and has never seen anything as strong as the storms Friday. He’s glad everyone walked out unharmed.

Saunders said the county would work with any residents who might be displaced and in need of emergency housing assistance.

Just minutes away, On North Frazier Road storms left piles of debris scattered and significant damage to properties.

Orange County leaders said they received several more calls, including from residences on Frazier Road and Mace Road, that reported damage including fallen trees and downed power lines.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Friday night a trooper “encountered an electrical shock” while on scene of the storm damage on North Frazier Road.

The SHP chief said at the time power lines and trees were down in the area, but he wasn’t sure how the trooper was shocked.

The trooper was on scene to assist with road closures.

The trooper was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition.

Not far away on Mace Road, several downed trees could be seen from above. Lumber and Debris scattered across the roads. Some residents in the area were left with no power, like Pete Evans who heard the tornado.

“We heard it very distinctly, just off in the distance. I knew what was going on,” said Evans. “I didn’t see a funnel cloud within our view so I knew we were OK.”

A house in Raleigh was also damaged Friday afternoon when lightning struck it.

Cumberland County Emergency Management said Friday it had reports of a tree on a home on Candlewood and Stacy Weaver Drive.

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission said crews are responding to approximately 13,000 customers currently without power, particularly in northern Fayetteville.

The Fayetteville PWC said damage assessment is on-going and there was no restoration timeline Friday evening.

Numerous power outages and downed trees have been reported across central North Carolina as the storms moved through. Most agencies are still working to assess the damage.