Storm rips through Mount Olive
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on August 12, 2011 2:00 PM
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News-Argus/FROM STAFF REPORTS
This metal structure, part of the Friendly Mart station on Breazeale Avenue in Mount Olive, was torn down by high winds this afternoon.
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News-Argus/FROM STAFF REPORTS
Flooding in Mount Olive behind the Piggly Wiggly from the storm Friday afternoon.
A severe thunderstorm packing high winds downed trees and damaged buildings in Mount Olive early this afternoon. Town officials said the storm, which National Weather Service officials estimated packed winds of about 60 miles per hour, hit the town about 1 p.m., and while it only lasted 10 to 15 minutes, Town Manager Charles Brown said the rain gauge at town hall registered more than 2.5 inches. Dime-sized hail also was reported. Several streets in town experienced minor flooding, while others, including Henderson, Main, Chestnut and Martin streets were blocked by fallen trees. As of 5 p.m., Progress Energy was reporting on its website that more than 680 customers -- including Mount Olive College and Mt. Olive Pickle Co. -- were without power, but that it expected service to be restored by about 8 p.m. Over in Snow Hill, nearly 100 other customers also were without power, while in the Grantham area, about eight suffered power outages -- outages that were expected to also be restored by about 8 p.m. There are no reports of injuries. See the Sunday edition of the newspaper for more details.