11 years ago: 24 killed, hundreds injured when tornadoes strike central NC

The National Weather Service confirmed 30 tornadoes in the state on April 16, 2011, a single-day record. Tornadoes touched down in 33 of the state's 100 counties.

April 2011 tornadoes

Four people were killed in both Bladen and Wake counties, including four children in a Raleigh community. Two people died in Lee County, and one person each perished in Cumberland and Harnett counties.

Alavarez remembers Daniel, who was 9, and Yaire, who was 6 months old. She tried to protect her children in a closet of her mobile home, but the structure couldn't withstand the storm.

"It was really hard, and at some point, I thought I cannot do this," Alvarez says of moving on after the storm. "I had no car. I had no house. I had nothing. I had my husband beside me, and that's it."

She turned to faith and family, especially her sister, who also lost two boys – Kevin Uriel Coronado-Nino, 3, and Osvaldo Coronado-Nino, 8.

"When I talk to her, she always tells me, 'We are very strong women, and we can do it," Alvarez said.

27 buildings on Shaw University's campus were destroyed in the tornado, causing $3.7 million in damage. The historic school canceled classes for the remainder of the spring 2011 semester, and students were forced to take final exams online.

"The tornado really took a toll on the university," said Tashni-Ann Dubroy, who was president of Shaw University at the time. "(Students) were scared."