A powerful severe thunderstorm rolled through Moore County on Saturday afternoon, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, thunder and lightning. The storm also caused many trees to fall, closing roads and bringing down power lines.
One tree fell onto a mobile home off of Niagara Carthage Road in Carthage, causing major damage, taking down a power line with it that split a power pole. Authorities closed Niagara Carthage Road near Vass-Carthage Road around 5 p.m. due to this event, and the road is still closed at time of publication due to lines being in the road.
The tree fell into a bedroom on the side of the mobile home. Carthage Fire Department told Moore County News on scene that the occupants of the mobile home were there at the time the tree came crashing through it, but they were not injured.
Power lines were hanging into Niagara Carthage Road, and the power pole they were attached to was snapped in two different places.
Downed trees cause traffic problems
Traffic across the county was impacted during the storm, as heavy rain caused drivers to cautiously drive at speeds lower than the speed limit, and high winds caused trees to fall into roadways.
Moore County News responded to several roads that had trees blocking the road. One of the major impacts happened on U.S. 15-501 between Doubs Chapel Road and Brinkley Road south of Carthage. Several trees fell across the highway, causing motorists to pull U-turns in the middle of the road. Firefighters from Eastwood and Carthage worked in pouring down rain to cut up the large trees and clear them from the highway as fast as possible. Lightning in the area caused the crews to briefly take shelter.
A pick up truck was seen partially in one of the trees, however it did not appear the driver was injured.
The area of Eagle Springs and West End had several trees and power lines blocking roadways. A power line down closed Tarry Church Road near Highway 24-27 for several hours until it could be repaired. Two trees fell on Martin Road in Eagle Springs, and one tree fell along Currie Mill Road in West End.
Moore County News saw multiple traffic lights not working along U.S. 15-501 between the traffic circle and Juniper Lake Road. A vehicle was stuck in high standing water on Johnson Street in Aberdeen.
