Wilmington businesses and homes damaged in storm

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A severe storm raged throughout the area Thursday night causing damage to businesses and homes. In Wilmington one section of Market Street between New Centre Drive and College Road seemed to bear the brunt of the storm.

For those who were in the area of Market street and New center drive the storm’s strong winds were not only a surprise but it was just plain scary.

Cherylanne Hecke, an Once Upon A Child employee, was working when the storm blew through.

“I actually think I am still in shock. It was traumatizing,” said Hecke. “I was working and I was walking back up front and all the lights went out. It’s like the pressure was extreme, your ears popped. And the ceiling went up and it went back down. I don’t know if you ever heard a stroller coming through a window but it’s terrifying.”

This scary event left this shopping center where Once Upon A Child looked like a war zone. But there was much more damage in the area. Across the street at the Wingate Hotel, guests found safety for themselves but not quite for their vehicles.

“It was blowing pretty hard,” said Hugh Woolard. “It sounded like hale hitting the building and I looked outside and I saw the trees leaning over and I saw my truck and a tree had fallen right next to it.”

Over at Enterprise Car Rentals on Market Street a rental car was pinned under a piece of the business’ actual roof.

And not too far away the Wilmington Fire Department responded to a call about a tree falling on the roof of an apartment complex. The tree fell on a building at the Colonial Park Apartments. Officials say there were no reports of any injuries but there was significant damage to the apartment. The estimated cost of the damage is not yet known.

Terry Dubberly who lives in the apartment complex says he couldn’t believe what happened.

“It went right in the window oh my goodness. I can’t believe. We had no idea what was happening,” said Dubberly.

And after the storm moved through Hecke only had one thing she could add.

“It was really a wild day,” said Hecke.