Dorian claims third life in NC; Weather Service confirms hurricane-spawned tornado hit Emerald Isle

Also Monday, the National Weather Service confirmed what residents of Boardwalk RV Park already knew: A tornado touched down in Emerald Isle Thursday, ahead of the hurricane.

A 54-year-old man died Saturday while attempting to use a chainsaw to remove a tree in New Hanover County, officials said. The previous two storm-related deaths included a Pamlico County man who collapsed Friday and a Columbus County man who fell from a ladder while preparing his home for the storm on Sept. 2.

"The sad news of an additional confirmed fatality is a reminder that, though the storm has moved away, we are still experiencing the dangers from the damage,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement.

The Weather Service gathered data that showed winds whipped at a maximum of 115 mph along a path 200 yards wide and 13 miles long, beginning just after 9 a.m. Thursday.

The confirmation came just about two hours before a planned visit from President Donald Trump, who was touring storm damage in the state before an evening rally in Fayetteville.

John Barker was among those who found his vacation trailer in pieces when he returned to Emerald Isle after Hurricane Dorian. The twister picked up Barker’s trailer and tossed it across the street. He spent Saturday morning searching for his wife’s figurines.

"We almost stayed. Thank God we didn’t," Barker said.

"Well, I’m very happy considering our place is spared," Ernestine Etheridge said. Inside, the recently renovated RV was just as they left it.

“It almost seems impossible that things like that can happen," she said. "One is still standing, and one right behind it is flipped over and destroyed."

Bill Knause was inside his home sipping coffee when, he said, "It shook a little bit, then it shook real hard and the right wall came tumbling down."

Sonny Robinson was not inside his home when the winds blew. He returned to find it relocated down the street.

"It evidently went airborne. That's the top of my home sitting in Bill's living room," he said. "It's hard to comprehend all of this destruction."

Jason Sawyer was home in Raeford when he realized the power was out at his vacation home. The couple was looking at Facebook reports of damage to Emerald Isle when Sawyer remembered his Ring doorbell camera. He accessed the video only to watch his home lifted off its foundation.

"We knew it was bad. We didn't realize how bad, but, you know, catching that sound of the tornado hitting us was pretty humbling. It really shakes you to the core," he said.

Amazingly, no one was badly hurt in the tornado.

On Saturday, the National Weather Service confirmed another tornado from Dorian — in Carolina Shores — was also an EF-2.

As recovery from Dorian continues, the state Division of Emergency Management has requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in conducting joint preliminary damage assessments in storm-affected counties. The assessments will begin this week and are the first step in determining the scope of Dorian’s damage.