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Photos: Recovery efforts underway after tornado hits Rocky Mount, NC communities

By Travis Long and Anna Connors
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

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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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Residents and workers began the process of cleaning up and assessing damage around Rocky Mount, N.C.. Thursday after an EF-3 tornado cut a path across Nash and Edgecombe counties Wednesday afternoon. Several people were injured and major damage was done to multiple houses and a Pfizer manufacturing facility.

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
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
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
Volunteers help clean up tornado damage at St. Stephen Loving Daycare Center in Rocky Mount, N.C. on Thursday, July 20, 2023. The tornado swept through the area on Wednesday.
Volunteers help clean up tornado damage at St. Stephen Loving Daycare Center in Rocky Mount, N.C. on Thursday, July 20, 2023. The tornado swept through the area on Wednesday. Anna Connors aconnors@newsobserver.com
Carolyn Slade, director of St. Stephen Loving Daycare Center in Rocky Mount, N.C., stands outside the building on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, downing trees and power lines around the property. Slade said the building was unharmed and no one at the daycare was injured.
Carolyn Slade, director of St. Stephen Loving Daycare Center in Rocky Mount, N.C., stands outside the building on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, downing trees and power lines around the property. Slade said the building was unharmed and no one at the daycare was injured. Anna Connors aconnors@newsobserver.com
Tornado damage to Joy and John Bashore’s garage in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured.
Tornado damage to Joy and John Bashore’s garage in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured. Anna Connors aconnors@newsobserver.com
Tornado damage to the exterior of Joy and John Bashore’s house in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured.
Tornado damage to the exterior of Joy and John Bashore’s house in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured. Anna Connors aconnors@newsobserver.com
Tornado damage to Joy and John Bashore’s living room in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured.
Tornado damage to Joy and John Bashore’s living room in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured. Anna Connors aconnors@newsobserver.com
Tornado damage to Joy and John Bashore’s living room in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured.
Tornado damage to Joy and John Bashore’s living room in Rocky Mount, N.C. is shown on Thursday, July 20, 2023. A tornado swept through the area on Wednesday, with several trees falling on the roof of the Bashore’s residence. Joy said she was inside the house with her dog when the tornado hit, and waited in the hallway until the storm passed. Neither Joy nor her dog were injured. Anna Connors aconnors@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
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
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
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

This story was originally published July 20, 2023 at 11:57 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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