Jan Wesner Childs
Three people were killed and 10 injured when a tornado fueled by a major winter storm struck a coastal North Carolina community late Monday night.
The tornado hit the Ocean Ridge Plantation area in Brunswick County, North Carolina, at about 11:50 p.m. Monday night, Brunswick County officials said.
Several homes were destroyed and several others were "severely" damaged. In all, at least 50 homes were affected, according to a news release from Brunswick County Emergency Services.
The National Weather Service gave the tornado a preliminary rating of EF3 with indications of winds up to 160 mph.
In an early-afternoon news conference Tuesday, officials said search and rescue operations had been conducted and everyone was accounted for. They described homes blown and debris strewn throughout Ocean Ridge, as well as businesses, homes and infrastructre damaged in other nearby areas.
“It was truly, truly a disaster last night," Brunswick County Commission chair Randy Thompson said.
Damage is seen after a deadly tornado in Brunswick County, North Carolina.All told, there were four reports of tornadoes on Monday from severe weather spawned by major Winter Storm Uri.
Storms also damaged homes and other structures and left at least four people injured Monday in Florida and Georgia.
In Georgia, a tornado touched down in Damascus, a small community in the southwest corner of the state. Early County Fire Department Capt. Bobby Wimberly said initial reports from units that responded indicated one person was injured and several homes destroyed.
“We don’t know the full details yet, they’re still on scene," Wimberly told weather.com in a phone call around 5:30 p.m. EST.
(MORE: Winter Storm Uri Turns Deadly As Millions Remain Without Power)
Photos posted to social media showed what appeared to be a heavily damaged home.
The National Weather Service radar in Tallahassee showed the tornado and a debris signature as it moved across the area.
A possible tornado, meanwhile, caused damage at a park and a resort in Panama City, Florida, the News-Herald reported. Three people were transported to the hospital after ceiling tiles fell at the Boardwalk Condo, city officials said.
Fencing and bleachers were knocked down at Frank Brown Park. Damage was reported the Fun-Land Arcade and at a nearby hotel that was under construction.
High winds also caused minor damage in Lake City, Florida, located in north Florida.
The severe weather was the result of Winter Storm Uri, which dumped snow and ice on other parts of the South, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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