The northern end of Richmond County fared better than the south during a storm that swept across the state Tuesday, leaving thousands without power.
Part of Boyd Lake Road in Hamlet was shut down overnight until around midday Wednesday due to a tree down near the American Legion, according to Asst. Fire Chief Richard Lassiter. The N.C. Department of Transportation was called in to help remove the tree.
A section of Main Street was also closed as several downtown businesses sustained damage during the storm.
According to Lassiter, pieces of the roof from the vacant buildings between Birmingham Sweets and The Nerdy Collective were blown off and broke several upstairs windows above Hail Mary’s Tavern and a front window of Irene’s Beauty Shop.
Lassiter said there were also several wrecks due to hydroplaning including: one on the U.S. 74 Bypass near exit 314; and another on Airport Road where the vehicle hit a tree. There were no reportable injuries.
The Rockingham Fire Department had 11 calls for service on Tuesday, mostly for trees and powerlines across roads, according to Chief Harold Isler. There was also a call that came directly to the station about a tree on top of a house.
Cordova Fire Chief Jeremy Chance reports there were a “couple of trees down” in that area, but “overall good.”
Capt. Kendell Watson with the East Rockingham Fire Department said crews responded to a few downed trees and electrical hazards, as well as roof damage at Temple Christian School.
The Ellerbe Fire Department removed two trees from roads and Mountain Creek had one tree down Wednesday morning on Saron Church Road, according to chiefs Will Barber and Kenny McFayden, respectively.
Hoffman Fire Chief Frank McKay said the only call his department received was for a leaning power pole and Derby Chief David Poland said his department received no calls.
“We were very fortunate,” McKay said. That sentiment was echoed by several of the other chiefs.
The Northside Fire Department could not be reached prior to publication.
Prior to the storm, the Hamlet Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Ginger Lane around 5 a.m.
Lassiter said smoke and flames were showing when crews arrived and they were on scene until around 8 a.m.
The American Red Cross was called in to assist the two occupants. No injuries were reported.
As of 7:20 p.m., Duke Energy was reporting that 2,545 of its customers were still without power in North Carolina — meaning 90% of those without around midday were not in the dark. There was one outage with one customer remaining in Richmond County.
Pee Dee Electric had only one customer in Anson County without power.
