Pamlico County family starts over after EF-1 tornado destroys Florence Road home

PAMLICO COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A Pamlico County family says it will need to rebuild after a confirmed EF-1 tornado destroyed their home on Florence Road.

The tornado tore rooms open to the sky, destroyed a barn and threw debris across the yard, and left boats and trees crushed and splintered.

Kari Falcone, a family member, said her uncle was injured and needed stitches after the roof above him was ripped off while he was inside.

“He said it just happened so quick, the walls came in, crushed all around him, and he said it was like a blink of a moment. And he said the next thing he knows, he was still here so, praise God about that,” Falcone said.

As the National Weather Service surveyed the damage, meteorologist Erik Heden urged residents to prepare for the region’s severe weather season.

“Mid-March to early May, traditionally that’s where we have some of the strongest thunderstorms. Our biggest tornadoes have been in the month of April,” Heden said.

Falcone said the family is asking the community to come out and help clear debris from the property.

“We need all hands on deck to clean up a lot of this debris and big logs laying around. I just ask if you want to come out tomorrow at 10 in the morning, like I said I will have it on my Facebook, the details, and just let me know if you’ll be coming,” Falcone said.