Businesses damaged in Belmont, Gastonia

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- Residents and business owners in Gaston County are cleaning up after a tornado touched down early Friday morning.

A tornado damaged or destroyed 14 businesses in a Gastonia business park.

The tornado, with winds at least 100 mph, touched down in Union Commons off Union Road at about 2:20 a.m. It ripped the roof off one building, which has now been condemned by the city.

Business owners say they’re grateful the storm struck in the middle of the night, not during the work day. Many had no idea the storms had hit, and were shocked to get calls in the middle of the night from the fire department making them aware of the damage.

“It’s hard to believe that a tornado can create that much damage, but it's literally blown us away,” said John Lowery, who owns a human resources consulting firm.

The ceiling is falling down inside his conference room, plants are tossed on the floor, and daylight shines through what was once covered by an attic door.

Three buildings in the complex suffered damage. One was destroyed.

“I hate it for our tenants. They’re going to have to find somewhere else to go. Their businesses are in shambles,” said John Thomas, who owns the buildings.

Most tenants spent the day trying to salvage what they could and hauling it in moving trucks. They’re concerned if it starts to rain, the ceiling will cave in.

“It’s been devastating because he has to have an office to work out of and right now we don’t know where we’re going. Just thankful he wasn’t here and had clients or anything. We just don’t know what to do, where to go,” said Becky Hallman, whose husband owns an insurance company.

The news is particularly tough for Shannon Benton, who owns a hair salon and does not have insurance. Most of the damage is isolated to one room, her office, which is now unrecognizable.

“This is something that me and my husband worked so hard for and he wanted this for me and everyone wanted this for me, and just to see this is devastating,” said Shannon Benton.

Thomas estimates two buildings can be repaired within a couple of weeks.

The National Weather Service said the tornado was only on the ground for a few minutes but it traveled nearly 7 miles.

Winds damage Belmont industrial park

By MARIO ROLDAN / WCNC
E-mail Mario: MRoldan@WCNC.com

BELMONT, N.C. -- Howling winds cut a path of destruction at an industrial park in Belmont. 

“It is amazing to see,” said Herb Harriss of Baxter Harriss Company. “The roof is about 80 percent gone in that building.”

Two buildings off Woodlawn Avenue and Jade Circle suffered serious damage to their roof because of the early morning tornado.

"Sky lights -- sky lights I didn't order," said Jason Hass of Gentle Ben Cleaning System.  “And that window, it's not supposed to be there either." 

Hass was talking about a cinder block wall that was blown away along with the shop's garage door.

“Just think about the pressure on this building when that happened,” Hass added.

Winds reached more than 100 mph.

"They say it sounds like a train but it didn't sound like a train,” neighbor John Smith of Ross Court.  “It sounded like a car running into my house.”

It was a tree. A branch lodged into Smith’s living room.

“I look around and just see a lot of damage you know,” said Smith.

As many as 10 homes were damaged.  

With power lines down, North Belmont Elementary closed.

“If you can see, there a dent on the side of the house,” pointed fourth grade student Nick Kimray.

Tree braches buried a truck across the street from Kimray’s house.

“I’m glad I’m alive,” said Smith.