Overnight Storms Leave Trail Of Damage

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — Heavy rain, powerful wind gusts and frequent lightning swept across Johnston County overnight, leaving behind downed trees, scattered power outages and property damage.

Emergency crews responded to numerous weather-related calls as the storms moved through the county, with fallen trees blocking roadways and damaging property in several communities, primarily across northern Johnston County.

In the Flowers community, a large tree crashed onto a detached garage at a residence. The impact caused structural damage to the building.

Johnston County Building Inspections evaluated the garage and determined it was unsafe due to the damage caused by the fallen tree. No injuries were reported.

The storms also produced widespread lightning and periods of heavy rainfall that reduced visibility for motorists during the overnight hours.

Strong winds brought down trees and large limbs across portions of the county, resulting in scattered power outages for Duke Energy customers. Utility crews worked throughout the night to restore electricity to affected homes and businesses.

NCDOT crews and emergency personnel also responded to remove fallen trees from roadways and address storm-related hazards.