**Rocky Mount, NC** – A powerful EF-3 tornado struck the city of Rocky Mount on Friday afternoon, leaving 15 people injured and causing extensive damage to 14 buildings.
Nash County Emergency Management confirmed the tornado’s touchdown at 1:31 p.m., with peak winds reaching an estimated 140 mph.
Of the 15 injured, four sustained serious injuries, though city and county officials noted that no children were harmed.
“It sounded like a freight train coming,” local resident Demetrius Slade recalled, describing the intense moment the tornado hit. Slade witnessed cars being lifted into the air, one of which was hurled into a nearby restaurant.
In response to the damage and ongoing recovery efforts, Rocky Mount Mayor C. Saunders Roberson declared a State of Emergency for the city.
Fire Chief Darvin Moore emphasized the city’s current focus on damage assessments and ensuring the safety of residents by cutting power and utilities to affected areas.
Several businesses along North Wesleyan Boulevard sustained significant damage, including Hing Ta Restaurant, Books a Million, El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, and Furniture Fair.
Residents like Sonny Cardinale, who was eating at a restaurant when the tornado hit, recalled the terrifying experience.
“It was just horrific,” he said, recounting how he helped others take cover under tables during the storm.
Photos of the damage reveal overturned vehicles and structural damage, including a tractor-trailer flipped on its side near a Days Inn and Suites.
City officials are working to assess the full extent of the destruction.
In addition to the damage in Rocky Mount,
an EF-1 tornado was also confirmed in Sampson County earlier that day.
The tornado caused damage to storage buildings
and a family home near Garland, but no injuries were reported.
Rocky Mount has experienced a history of tornadoes in recent years,
including an EF-3 tornado between Wilson and Lucama in August 2024,
and another EF-3 tornado near Dortches in July 2023.
As the community begins recovery efforts,
residents are urged to follow local authorities’ guidance
and stay informed on future weather developments.
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