CLAREMONT, N.C. — One person died and four others were injured after a storm blew through a Claremont neighborhood on Tuesday, Catawba County officials said.
The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office said it happened on Cindi Lane off of Old Catawba Road, just south of Interstate 40. Deputies and first responders went from home to home searching for victims. They said a possible tornado hit the area.
At least two were reported to be in critical condition.
Emergency management officials confirmed that information to Channel 9, saying it was the result of a “weather event” at a mobile home park.
Severe storm hits Cindi Lane in Claremont One person died and at least two others are in critical condition after a storm blew through a Claremont neighborhood on Tuesday.
About 30 people have been displaced, county officials said.
A temporary shelter was set up at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church at 3180 West Main St. in Claremont. It’s open for those who have been relocated due to the storm. There are cots, blankets, restrooms, and food.
Family members and friends said the man who died was in his 30s and was trying to protect his pregnant girlfriend when the storm hit.
“He was protecting his girlfriend and the baby and he didn’t make it,” said his sister-in-law Cassandra Perrigan.
“It’s so sad. Lives lost, people you grew up with, people you’ve loved,” friend Serena Carver said. “It’s sad.”
Multiple homes were destroyed. Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke to Leigh Wimbley and his wife, Wanda, who showed him what’s left of their home. Much of the roof came off as the couple tried to save themselves when the storm hit around lunchtime Tuesday.
“I heard the winds, the strong winds blowing and I said ‘Leigh let’s go for the closet.’ We went to go in the closet and the door blew off,” Wanda said.
“The good Lord seemed fit for us to stay alive and that’s what I’m thankful for,” Leigh said.
Family members and friends of another person who lives nearby said he died in the storm while trying to save his wife.
Neighbors said rain began falling early that morning and then the wind suddenly picked up.
“There was no sirens. There was nothing on the phones, nothing. If we didn’t hear it, we wouldn’t have known it was coming,” Casandra Perrigan said. “I screamed for my kids and threw them in a bathtub and got on top of them. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Faherty could see the tops of trees were twisted in a way that was consistent with tornado damage.
“This mobile home was about 100 feet back that way,” Robert Robinette said.
He says he lost his carport in the storm. He went to check on his friends after it blew over.
“It’s something you would see on TV. It’s terrible,” he said. “What can I say? It’s absolutely terrible. I hope everybody is OK.”
The National Weather Service will survey the area to see if a tornado hit.
There’s no update on the two people who were critically hurt, but Faherty hopes to learn more about their conditions.
For questions about the shelter’s accommodations, call 828-465-8355.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
(WATCH BELOW: Tree falls on home in north Charlotte)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/5JWYY4KL4BAHROOJBGP2ES3RRA.png?fit=1440,810&ssl=1 "1 dead, 4 hurt after storm blows through Claremont destroying several homes – WSOC TV")
