Storms moving across the Southeast late last week caused damage from high winds and tornadoes in some parts, as well as sparked fires, in multiple states.
Officials say tropical storm-force winds blew down power lines and trees across the area of Tampa Bay, Fla.
Pasco County Government spokesman Doug Tobin said wind gusts up to 65 mph and sustained winds of 50 mph were reported early Saturday from Hudson to New Port Richey.
WTSP-TV reported the Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay was closed for a few hours because of the dangerously windy conditions.
Tobin said the strong winds forced authorities to limit fire rescue operations for employee safety reasons for a short time.
Damage reported to Pasco County’s emergency management department included small fires sparked by downed power lines, damage to six buildings and several roads blocked by fallen trees or light poles.
Two tornados were confirmed in North Carolina as the storms moved across the state.
The National Weather Service said Friday a tornado touched down in Oxford, snapping trees and damaging some buildings. A second tornado was confirmed near Rockyhock in Chowan County.
No serious injuries were reported.
East Carolina University in Greenville canceled the outdoor commencement scheduled Friday. Individual college and school recognition ceremonies scheduled inside building across campus were being held as scheduled.
All the tornado watches issued by the weather service had expired by midday Friday.
The storms prompted school officials in Wilson County to delay the start of classes by two hours.
Duke Energy reported more than 1,700 customers without service Friday afternoon. The biggest problems were reported in Rockingham County.
No serious injuries were reported in eastern South Carolina but the biggest problems from the storms Thursday night and Friday morning were reported in Holly Hill in Orangeburg County and in Walterboro. Damage was reported to the roof of a strip mall in Holly Hill.
The weather service was also going to check on damage in Colleton County, where an SUV was hit by a tree and a roof was torn off one house.
Duke Energy reported about 800 customers without service, mostly in Greenville and Oconee counties.
The National Weather Service had issued tornado warnings in the area, but those were canceled by early Friday.
Topics Catastrophe
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