Gov. McCrory tours eastern NC tornado damage

McCrory was joined by other officials in Chowan County, where an 11-month-old boy died Sunday morning from injuries from Friday's storms. Chowan County emergency management director Cordell Palmer could not provide additional details about the boy's death.

"All of North Carolina is grieving over the loss of such an innocent life," McCrory said in a statement Sunday night. "(My wife) Ann and I will be praying for the family as it copes with this terrible loss."

Dozens of others were injured, including a Perquimans County resident who suffered a major head injury.

While in Chowan County, McCrory saw damage in Edenton from a tornado that forecasters say had maximum winds of around 125 mph. That tornado also was one of two twisters Friday to damage neighborhoods around Elizabeth City.

Tornadoes also touched down in Beaufort, Pitt, Halifax and Pasquotank counties, the National Weather Service confirmed Saturday.

On Sunday, the NWS confirmed two additional tornadoes in Greene County – an EF0 – with winds up to 85 mph – that briefly touched down near Kearney Cemetery Road, about 5 miles west-northwest of Snow Hill. An EF1 tornado – with winds up to 110 mph – struck near Old Beamon Creek Road, about 6 miles north of Snow Hill.

More than 325 homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed by the storms with Beaufort County bearing the brunt of the damage. Nearly 200 homes and buildings were destroyed or damaged, primarily in the Chocowinity and Whichards Beach area.

Four historic structures were damaged in Edenton.

It could take a week for that to happen.

"We, as a government, are going to try to do everything we can to provide the best service we can to get these people's lives back on track as quick as possible," McCrory said.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has been assisting tornado victims. Snowd Branch Church of God, at 328 Voa Road in Washington in Beaufort County, remained open Sunday.

Contributions can also be sent by mail to a local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross via P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.