ROCKINGHAM — Despite two days of storms moving across the state, Richmond County got by relatively unscathed.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh issued a severe thunderstorm warning Wednesday afternoon, which expired at 5:15 p.m., and a tornado watch effective until midnight. A flood watch issued on Tuesday was set to expire at 3 a.m. Thursday.

Richmond County Emergency Services Director Donna Wright told the Daily Journal in an email Wednesday that, to her knowledge, there were no major storm damages other than trees down.

Hamlet Police Chief Scott Waters told the Daily Journal on Tuesday that several of his family members had downed trees in their yards.

Wright added that there was no known flooding.

Other parts of the state didn’t fare as well.

Multiple tornadoes were reported at 4:20 p.m. in the southern Yadkin County, according to the Yadkin Ripple. Numerous trees and power lines were down blocking roads in the Courtney and West Yadkin areas.

Fire Marshal Ricky Leonard told the Ripple that the gymnasium at Courtney Elementary School sustained severe damage. According to the Associated Press, gym had two walls blown out and part of its roof ripped away. The

Leonard also reported to the Ripple that emergency crews were on the scene and had rescued several individuals trapped in homes due to tornado damage. Around 6 p.m. Leonard said one person remained trapped in a trailer and crews were working to extricate that individual. So far no injuries were reported, but Leonard said the situation was still being assessed.

WXII-TV in Winston-Salem reported people in the Courtney General Store in Yadkinville said residents locked themselves inside a bathroom and heard noises that “sounded like a train,” according to the AP.

The sheriff in neighboring Stokes County reported that a tornado touched down there around 4:15 p.m. There was no immediate word there of damages or injuries.

The Statesville Record & Landmark reports at least two mobile homes have been destroyed in a portion of Iredell County near U.S. Highway 64, according to the AP.

The newspaper also reported numerous trees were toppled and there were multiple reports of property damage near the Davie County line. Some of the trees blocked local roads, and power lines were down as well.

The National Weather Service reported a storm with rotation was spotted near Troutman, south of Statesville, and moved east toward Cool Springs and the intersection of three counties near Interstate 40.

A state of emergency was declared in the Sampson County town of Autryville on Wednesday after a tornado with winds of 110 mph damaged a fire station and several mobile homes the previous day, according to the AP. No serious injuries were reported, but a curfew was imposed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Gov. Roy Cooper spoke with Autryville Mayor Larry Autry about the damages who said state Emergency Mangement officials have been in cotact with him about helping.

Weather service officials were scheduled to visit Parkton in Robeson County to determine whether a tornado damaged some buildings about an hour before the storm ripped through Autryville, the AP reported.

Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said one man was treated by emergency personnel after suffering minor injuries when a mobile home overturned, according to the AP. Thornton said all other injuries were scrapes and bruises.

There are more thunderstorms in the forecast for Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Yadkin County Fire Marshal’s office Two walls and part of the roof were blown off of the Courtney Elementary School gym in Yadkin County after a reported tornado touched down on Wednesday.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_yadkingym.jpgPhoto courtesy of Yadkin County Fire Marshal’s office Two walls and part of the roof were blown off of the Courtney Elementary School gym in Yadkin County after a reported tornado touched down on Wednesday.

Staff and wire reports