EF3 tornado devastates Nash and Edgecombe Counties, recovery efforts continue

Recovery efforts continued in Nash and Edgecombe Counties on Thursday night following the devastating EF3 tornado that touched down on Wednesday afternoon.

With estimated wind speeds of up to 150 miles per hour, the tornado caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

In Nash County, the tornado touched down near the town of Dortches and tracked northeast for 16.5 miles. The path of destruction included the Belmont Lake Golf Course, where 15 golfers were forced to take shelter on the course during the storm.

"It came out and took out a homeowner over here, and pieces of his house ended up in my yard," said Greg Hampton, who witnessed the golfers taking cover.

The aftermath of the EF3 tornado is still fresh in Hampton's mind. "It's hard to believe how much damage it caused," he said. "It just tore everything to pieces."

Hampton walked WRAL News through the Belmont Lake Golf Course, the same spot where he saw 15 golfers taking shelter from the intense storm.

"I'm sure they were in the middle of a round of golf when the storm hit," Hampton said.

Hampton said that some golfers used their golf carts on the course as shelter while others took cover in a bunker.

"There's nothing really to do, so you just had to hit the ground and that's what they did," Hampton said.

Officials reported two minor injuries and 12 homes with substantial damage.

Hampton admires his neighbors and their quick recovery from a scary situation.

"It just says everything about what we do," Hampton said.

Volunteers with the American Red Cross of NC have been surveying this damage.

They have also partnered with community organizations to provide food, water and immediate assistance.