EF-1 tornado confirmed near the RTP, where roof ripped off Pfizer office building

Winds ripped part of the roof off of Pfizer's office building in the Research Triangle Park. Although 100 mph winds were detected, Durham Division Chief Jim Cole said no one inside the building was hurt.

"There's no structural damage at all," said Cole. "It could have caused a lot more damage. We really got lucky with it."

The building will only need to have the top part of it's roof fixed, according to officials. No part of the buildings foundation was damaged.

Strong winds and heavy rain also caused damage and crashes across the Triangle on Thursday afternoon.

Dozens of crashes were reported as people rushed to get home while the storm pelted across the Triangle.

The wind and rain forced drivers like Benjamin Eller to pull over on the side of Interstate 540 and hunker down inside their cars.

"I was blocking my head like this, cause the wind was hitting the window right here," said Eller. "There was stuff blowing everywhere, I couldn't even see the debris."

Eller saw another driver's window shatter and the storm tear a road sign clean off its base.

"I called my mom on the phone cause she was on speed dial, and I was like 'I'm in a tornado.' I didn't want to be by myself if I go flying through the air," said Eller.

At least 55 flights were delayed out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport and 10 flights were canceled, according to the website FlightAware.

About 700 customers lost power in Raleigh during the storms.

Emergency officials said chicken houses were destroyed, and damage occurred to homes and trees.