BERTIE Co., N.C. - The Bertie County Sheriff's Office has now confirmed that two adults are dead and 14 are hurt after severe storms struck the area.
According to the National Weather Service's preliminary damage survey results, the tornado occurred from 1:15 a.m. to 1:26 a.m., and reached max winds of 140-145 mph. NWS classified the tornado as a EF-3.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper stated earlier Tuesday morning that at least one person had died after a possible tornado hit a mobile home park overnight and that number was later updated.
According to Cooper's statement during a "Good Morning America" appearance, a number of people were injured.
Later Tuesday, local officials say the search and rescue efforts are being redirected to a recovery mission in the Cedar Land community. They confirmed that the two fatalities were one man and one woman. They elaborated that "recovery mission" means moving the state and visiting task force teams out and having the local volunteers and church organizations assist the families most affected with donations, hotels or any other immediate needs.
The Bertie County county manager later confirmed to News 3 that everyone who was suspected missing as a result of tornadic activity has been accounted for.
North Carolina saw a "number" of tornadoes during then-Category 1 Hurricane Isaias. Cooper said the state does not have an official count as of now.
355,000 households were left without power at the storm's peak.
Two people were also rescued from a flooded home in Bertie County, Gov. Cooper said.
The National Guard said they have 105th Eng. Battalion Soldiers working with first responders in a Search and Rescue Mission in the area.
A National Weather Service Wakefield representative said they will be surveying Tuesday and all-day Wednesday in the areas that a tornado is believed to have touched down, but said it will be different, due to COVID-19.
They can’t be in a group, but rather just one person at a time surveying.
There are three areas where tornado investigations are happening and those include Bald Head Island, Bertie County and Hertford County.
There is no further information about those who are still in the hospital.
