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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT
00000177-efb4-dee4-afff-efbec5830000Follow all of WHQR’s coverage throughout Hurricane Dorian on this page. For up to date information on evacuations, shelters, emergency closings, flooding, traffic, and more, tune in to 91.3 fm or get the WHQR app.

Dorian's Unexpected Force: Tornadoes

Brunswick County Sheriff's Office
Tornado damage in Brunswick County.

Dorian has left the Cape Fear region, but its impact lingers. While counties spent nearly a week preparing for Thursday night’s wind and rainfall, the most significant damage may have happened hours before the storm actually hit: from tornadoes.

Damage at the height of Dorian was relatively minimal. That’s according to Scott Garner, Deputy Director of Emergency Services for Brunswick County.

 

“Overall, I think that we might've dodged a bullet. We do have several homes with major damage...but most of that was from a tornado that happened yesterday morning.”

In Pender County, Tom Collins, Emergency Management Director, says the tornadoes -- which sprouted up early Thursday morning -- weren’t exactly expected. 

“It's been a long time since I remember a hurricane where we’ve had a lot of thunderstorms and... tornadic activity like this. It’s not as common for a tropical system.” 

County officials say damage assessment is still underway.

Hannah Breisinger, WHQR News.

 

Hannah is WHQR's All Things Considered host, and also reports on science, the environment, and climate change. She enjoys loud music, documentaries, and stargazing; and is the proud mother of three cats, a dog, and many, many houseplants. Contact her via email at hbreisinger@whqr.org, or on Twitter @hbreisinger.