Neighbors of Raleigh neighborhood cleaning up after storms bring down trees, cause damage

Tuesday afternoon storms caused major damage in Raleigh's Oak Park neighborhood off Glenwood Avenue.

Trees fell onto homes, crashing into roofs while people were inside. Power went out but was turned on quickly for most residents.

Neighbors said they’ll be helping each other clean up and they’re lucky no one was hurt.

"It seems like people immediately get out and check on the neighbors make sure everyone’s OK that’s what we’ve been doing and it seems we’ve been pretty fortunate," said Doug Hall.

Most of the neighborhood had power back Tuesday evening, with an exception of a home on Deerwood Drive where a giant oak crashed into a yard. The family who lives there said they won’t get power back for another three weeks.

WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said there was a chance of storms rolling through the Triangle on Tuesday. Some of the viewing area was under a level 1 for severe storms. The day started off good but it got hot quickly. With that heat and humidity, it was only a matter of time before the summertime storms flared up.

Mark Boyle in the WRAL Live Center reported during Tuesday's newscast where trees were down in at least two parts of the Raleigh area. Rain came through the Triangle around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and brought some heavy showers and strong winds. Similar conditions were reported in parts of Fayetteville, Southern Pines and Rocky Mount.

The storms that flared up brought winds of up to 40 mph. Most of the storms were moving off to the east at about 10 mph and had frequent lightning strikes with them.

Otherwise, it was a really hot day before the storms came. A heat advisory was extended from most of eastern North Carolina to the Raleigh area. It was in effect until 7 pm.

Wednesday, it'll be more of the same as a heat advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for all of eastern N.C., extending through Fayetteville, Rocky Mount and Raleigh.

The heat was so intense Tuesday that outdoor workers in the Triangle were taking extra precautions. In Brier Creek, WRAL reporter Emmy Victor said garbage collectors started picking up trash at 6:30 a.m., one hour earlier than usual. Solid waste leaders hope the changes, started last week and continuing through Labor Day, would prevent heat related injuries.

"Thirty minutes can make a big difference for them," said Terri Hyman with the City of Raleigh. "It means starting earlier -- and hopefully finishing their routes -- before the temperatures get really elevated."

According to the city, Raleigh crews are sent out with water coolers and ice each morning. When the heat index reaches 105 degrees, crews working outdoors are pulled from the field to cool off.

Remnants of Barry, now a tropical depression, will move into North Carolina on Thursday as rain showers.

Temperatures will stay in the mid-to-upper 90s throughout the week.