4 Dead in North Carolina Twisters : At Least 143 Injured by ‘Big Bouncing Ball’ Tornadoes

RALEIGH, N.C. —  Tornadoes skipped across North Carolina’s capital city before dawn today like a “big bouncing ball” and went on to hit rural counties nearby, killing four people and injuring at least 143, authorities said.

Three of the deaths, including an 8-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, were in Wake County, which includes Raleigh, and the others were in neighboring Nash County, officials said.

Gov. James G. Martin said three storm systems hit the state and at least 15 tornado touchdowns were reported in seven counties. In north Raleigh, tornadoes raked a path through a five-mile area. Four three-story apartment buildings and a department store were flattened.

“I can remember hearing a big gust of wind like a hurricane and then I could hear the wood tearing and I thought, ‘Oh God, this is it, I’m gone.’ I just buried myself under the bed,” said Betty Bell of Raleigh, who was in bed when a tornado hit.

Tony DeVita, 34, of the Calibre Oaks complex said he grabbed a pillow and got behind his bedroom door until the tornado passed.

“The roof was totally gone, the patio doors were gone and every window was smashed. The carpet was rolled up like someone was going to replace it,” he said, adding he had to dig his way out from the corner of the room.

62 Hospitalized

Raleigh City Manager Dempsey Benton Jr. said 62 people were taken to hospitals in Wake County, including three who required surgery. At least nine houses were destroyed and 44 damaged, he said.

Benton said city officials received no warning from the National Weather Service about the possibility of tornadoes. “We did not have a tornado watch nor warning before the storm struck,” he said.

He and Raleigh Mayor Avery Upchurch flew over the affected area today and Upchurch said, “It looked like a big bouncing ball had gone through there.”

Roger Friedenson of the Insurance News Service said it appeared that damages could be as serious as tornadoes that struck southeastern North Carolina in 1984 and caused about $65 million in damage. City officials said 500 people were homeless.

The tornadoes first struck Raleigh around 1:15 a.m., Benton said. City buses took more than 300 people to two shelters, he said.

Power Outages Widespread

Power outages were widespread in North Carolina, authorities said.

“We’ve had churches that have been demolished, some trailers and some homes,” said Franklin County Sheriff Arthur E. Johnson, who added that Red Cross personnel were on their way.

In northern Raleigh, a Kmart store was flattened, and three people were trapped inside, said police Sgt. J. D. Everett. All three were rescued, but one man suffered a broken leg, said Assistant Fire Chief Robert Whittington.

Bricks, cinder blocks and twisted steel girders lay in a heap with racks of clothing and other merchandise.

Police dispatched officers to nearby neighborhoods to look for people in need of help and to prevent looting.

“It appears that we’ve got extensive damage all over the area,” Everett said.