Daycare director’s quick thinking keeps kids safe in NC tornado

ROCKY MOUNT, NC (WRAL) — St. Stephen’s Loving Daycare Center in Rocky Mount has some repairs to do after Wednesday’s EF3 tornado damaged the ceiling and shattered a window.

“We saw the devastation of everything,” Carolyn Slade said.

As the tornado approached, there were 67 children playing inside at the day care center at 3861 North Wesleyan Blvd. in Rocky Mount.

No one was injured thanks to quick actions of Slade and her staff.

“Of course, I started crying because I’m emotional,” Slade said. “It was a miracle.”

Slade described what happened Wednesday afternoon as the tornado ripped through the area.

“I came in the inside, it blew the door open, that door came open from the force, and I pushed it, I don’t know how I did it,” Slade said. “It was the grace of God, and I locked the door.”

The only damage to the building was part of the ceiling and a shattered window.

For the full story, click here.