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1:26 p.m. • 6-19-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 85° F
  • Thu: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 85° F
  • Fri: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 85° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Published: 2011-04-21 16:58:00
Updated: 2011-04-22 07:20:31

Lee County family farm focuses on cleanup after tornado


lee county farm
lee county farm
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Before Saturday’s deadly tornadoes, the Thomas family had a thriving soybean, tobacco and cattle farm in Sanford. 

Now, all that is left is fields of twisted metal and other debris.

"The damage is catastrophic," farmer Tim Thomas said.

A tornado plowed directly into the Thomas family farm mangling buildings, tractors and dozens of tobacco barns.

"Anything you needed to farm, we lost it all," Tim's brother, Steve Thomas, said.

The brothers run the farm with Tim's nephew, Wayne Thomas. 

Volunteers spent Thursday finishing what the storm started – clearing away what's left.

Tim Thomas said a 12,000-pound tobacco barn had to be removed from the back part of his storage shelter.

In the middle of all the damage, only an office remains. Wayne Thomas, three co-workers and Thomas' 83-year-old grandfather hid there when the tornado hit.

Tim Thomas said the fact that they weren’t injured is a miracle.

The Thomas family is no focused on cleaning up and rebuilding.

Local farmers who heard about the damage at the Thomas' farm have also turned out to help.

“They are friends of mine, been friends for life, and they came to my rescue,” Tim Thomas said.

Even Wayne Thomas, who also lost his house in the tornado, said he's a lucky man with friends like these.

"It’s a Godsend," he said.

At least 80,000 chickens were killed across the state in Saturday's tornadoes, the state Department of Agriculture said. There is not a final number of how many other livestock were killed.

Since it was early in the year, few crops were in the field to be damaged.

The Department of Agriculture has set-up a website for farmers needing aid.


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  1. nsj: Franklin co. storm. MT @NWSRaleigh: Examining some damage right now at the intersection of Quail Dr. and Sid Eaves Rd. Could be the path…
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 10:44 AM
  2. wralweather: Tropical Depression #Two is 1476 miles SW of Raleigh, moving WNW at 9 mph. Max winds 35 mph. http://t.co/c7HEB3cm4Q #ncwx
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 10:40 AM
  3. nsj: Welp. RT @mikemcguff: Belo Sued by Investor Over $1.5 Billion Gannett Takeover - Bloomberg via @BloombergNow http://t.co/qOfDM3i2UH
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 10:33 AM
  4. nsj: RT @JeffLast: Repair of the NWS Milw/Sullivan radome continues this week http://t.co/GTNJ39As4C http://t.co/p2xDThUxSA http://t.co/lTd1ZJ4t…
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 10:29 AM
  5. WRALweathergal: Light rain in southern Hoke and Cumberland Counties will likely linger for the next hour.
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 7:41 AM
  6. wralweather: Tropical Depression #Two is 1467 miles SW of Raleigh, moving WNW at 9 mph. Max winds 35 mph. http://t.co/c7HEB3cm4Q #ncwx
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 7:40 AM
  7. wralweather: Forecast: Today, thunderstorm, high 85°. Tonight, partly cloudy, low 65°. http://t.co/RMcYv6WbFE
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 6:55 AM
  8. WRALweathergal: Pretty sunrise in some spots as skies gradually clear this morning.
      — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 5:56 AM

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