Storms rolling through Raleigh leave behind damage

Raleigh, N.C. — Storms moved through the Triangle late Friday, toppling trees, downing power lines and damaging at least one home.

A tree fell on a home in north Raleigh, which has been owned by the Salvation Army for more than 40 years. The tree nearly split the house in half.

"It’s just a blessing that we weren’t here," Maj. Al Smith, with the Salvation Army, said upon arriving at his home at 1005 Winona Road.

The tree fell during a thunderstorm late Friday, while Smith and his family were out celebrating his birthday. Smith said he hopes insurance will cover most of the damage.

At the height of the storm, Progress Energy reported more than 5,000 customers in the north Raleigh and Wake Forest areas had lost power.

Residents described the storm’s winds as hurricane-like.

Elsewhere, St. August Drive in Raleigh was closed for about 45 minutes, because downed power lines and tree branches were in the road, authorities said. Downed trees were also reported on Quail Meadow. A huge tree hit the roof of an apartment building on Hardimont Road. A home on Rainwater Drive also had its roof punctured by a tree.

Throughout the evening, the National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Nash, Franklin, Halifax and Wake counties.