Tornado hits Belgrade

MAYSVILLE - Six injuries, all minor, have been attributed to the tornado that touched down Sunday evening in the Belgrade area of Onslow County, according to officials with Onslow County Emergency Services.

The tornado touched down around 6:45 p.m., according to Casey Quell, National Weather Service forecaster.

Structural damage won't be confirmed until this moring, but Norman Bryson, assistant director of Onslow County Emergency Services, estimated up to 25 structures including homes were damaged.

White Oak River Variety, located on the corner of White Oak River Road and U.S. 17, was demolished.

Josh Reiniger, a Camp Lejeune Marine and photo hobbyist, said he was traveling north on U.S. 17 to take pictures of some of the old buildings in Maysville when the storm came through the area.

"I saw some lightning and thought it would make a good picture," said Reiniger, 25, who soon realized it was more than a thunderstorm that had passed through the area.

"I came through and saw something had come through. There's an old store that's been destroyed, sheet metal dangling from power lines, wood and debris everywhere," he said. "There was one house with a piece of sheet metal that went through the window of their house."

Belgrade, White Oak and Pumpkin Center volunteer fire departments, as well as Onslow County EMS, Johnson Ambulance Service, Jacksonville Rescue Squad and the N.C. Highway Patrol responded, Bryson said.

The American Red Cross was also in the area.

"They're trying to see if they can provide assistance to anyone," Bryson said.

Traffic was backed up in both directions after U.S. 17 and was closed after the storm first came through. U.S. 17 reopened after 8 p.m., but Belgrade-Swansboro Road was still closed at press time while the N.C. Division of Forest Resources worked to remove a tree that fell across the road, Bryson said.

No other major damage was reported in Onslow or Carteret counties, which both faced bouts of heavy rain, hail and lightning.

Sheriff Ed Brown originally heard reports of a tornado in the Sandridge Road area of Hubert, but later said there was no news of anything in the Hubert area.

The National Weather Service could not confirm a tornado in that area.

"We've had storms out that way but we haven't had any report of tornadoes," Quell said.

Timmi Toler contributed to this report. Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at ahickey@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8463. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.