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Drone photos show extensive tornado damage to Pfizer plant in Rocky Mount, NC

By Travis Long

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Tornado hits Rocky Mount, Battleboro, NC

An EF3 tornado touched down in Rocky Mount and Battleboro, North Carolina, July 19, 2023, heavily damaging a Pfizer product facility and injuring more than a dozen people. Here is coverage from the tornado in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

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A EF-3 tornado left a trail of damage in Nash and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina Thursday afternoon, July 20, 2023.

A Pfizer pharmaceutical plant that produces medications was damaged. Here are drone photos that show the destruction.

A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023.
A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023.
A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023.
A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023.
A section of a Pfizer facility in Rocky Mounty sustained heavy tornado damage Wednesday, July, 19, 2023. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Friends and family try to salvage items from the home Evelyn Powell near Battleboro, N.C., Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF-3 tornado hit the area Wednesday, heavily damaging or destroying several homes and businesses.
Friends and family try to salvage items from the home Evelyn Powell near Battleboro, N.C., Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF-3 tornado hit the area Wednesday, heavily damaging or destroying several homes and businesses. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Evelyn Powell stands in the doorway to her kitchen on Thursday, July 20, 2023. Evelyn and James Powell’s house, situated on 7 Bridges Rd. east of Battleboro, N.C., was hit by the tornado on Wednesday afternoon. James said he was standing in the house watching the news when the roof lifted off the place. The two have lived in the house for over 40 years. Photo by Anna Connors, The News & Observer
Evelyn Powell stands in the doorway to her kitchen on Thursday, July 20, 2023. Evelyn and James Powell’s house, situated on 7 Bridges Rd. east of Battleboro, N.C., was hit by the tornado on Wednesday afternoon. James said he was standing in the house watching the news when the roof lifted off the place. The two have lived in the house for over 40 years. Photo by Anna Connors, The News & Observer Anna Connors Anna Connors, The News & Observer
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Family members help clean up the home of Evelyn Powell, an Edgecombe County Commissioner, Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Battleboro. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Residents clean up Thursday, July 20, 2023 after a tornado touched down in Battleboro on Wednesday An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Residents clean up Thursday, July 20, 2023 after a tornado touched down in Battleboro on Wednesday An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash and Edgecombe Counties around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Downed trees and limbs lay in the path of a tornado in a cemetery near Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Downed trees and limbs lay in the path of a tornado in a cemetery near Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Heavily damaged homes on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service..
Heavily damaged homes on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Works help clean up at a heavily damaged homes on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service..
Works help clean up at a heavily damaged homes on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Antonio Middleton of Nashville helps clean up at a damaged home on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service..
Antonio Middleton of Nashville helps clean up at a damaged home on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Downed trees and limbs lay in the path of a tornado in a cemetery near Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Downed trees and limbs lay in the path of a tornado in a cemetery near Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Workers clear debris from a tornado damaged home in the Belmont Lake Golf Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.
Workers clear debris from a tornado damaged home in the Belmont Lake Golf Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Lawn furniture and debris sits about 50 yards from the nearest home on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service..
Lawn furniture and debris sits about 50 yards from the nearest home on Great Glen in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
Downed trees show the path of a tornado in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service..
Downed trees show the path of a tornado in the Belmont Lakes Country Club community in Rocky Mount Thursday, July 20, 2023. An EF3, tornado with wind speeds of 150 mph touched down in Nash County Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday according to the Raleigh National Weather Service.. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

This story was originally published July 20, 2023 at 8:43 AM.

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Tornado hits Rocky Mount, Battleboro, NC

An EF3 tornado touched down in Rocky Mount and Battleboro, North Carolina, July 19, 2023, heavily damaging a Pfizer product facility and injuring more than a dozen people. Here is coverage from the tornado in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

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