Updates on Last Night’s Storm and Tornado in Colfax area
by Jeff
Chairman Perkins issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency for Guilford County this morning due to a reported tornado that caused widespread damage, injuries and loss of life on Thursday, May 8th. The Proclamation was made to maintain public order, services, protection of lives, safety and property during this emergency and will remain in effect within Guilford county until the emergency is over. This proclamation is a first step in order to submit a request to the State of North Carolina for potential financial assistance.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on May 8, 2008, Guilford Metro 9-1-1 received reports of a tornado in the area of Interstate 40 and Sandy Ridge Road with numerous vehicles including tractor-trailers overturned on Interstate 40. Subsequent to the initial calls, additional reports of damage included several locations with building collapse, fire alarms and trees/power lines down. Multiple public safety agencies within Guilford County responded to these incidents within the Colfax, City of Greensboro and Piedmont Triad International Airport area. At this time, there have been three injuries and one fatality was recorded from the storm event. Alan Perdue activated the Guilford County Emergency Operations Center and public safety personnel began assessing damage.
Greensboro Assistant Fire Chief David Douglas stated at the press conference this morning that a commercial and industrial area in Guilford County around U.S. 421, Interstate 40, N.C. 68 and Sandy Ridge Road has been quarantined, meaning no traffic or employees will be allowed in that area. West Market Street is also closed in that area. Search and rescue teams, inspections and engineering crews are doing damage assessment and evaluating each building to ensure no one was left behind, Douglas said. The Greensboro Police Department has set up a command post at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market on Sandy Ridge Road. Business and property owners may call that mobile office to report structural problems at 708-5037 for help in accessing their business. Non-emergency calls should be directed to the City of Greensboro’s Contact Center at 373-2489.
Meteorologist Jeff Orrock, National Weather Service, verified that a “F2, small F3 tornado with wind speeds of 100-130 mph, left a path of destruction in this area.”
Planning Director Greg Niles verified damages with the superintendents for both FedEX and HondaJet: FedEx: minor damage to roof mounted vents and HVAC units; HondaJet: access ladder damage. Other than shifting materials and debris, the sites are in good shape. Also, Guilford County Schools reported no damage to Colfax or other schools.
Duke Energy notified us that Guilford County sustained damage with 1,100 outages reported, principally in the area west of the airport, as the storm moved through from the southwest to the northeast.