Orange County residents continue to clean up from storms that blew through the county on Friday, April 19, damaging many structures but causing no reported injuries or fatalities.
As of Sunday evening, Orange County Emergency Management had received 58 reports of storm-related damage to structures, 13 of which were self-reported. The county has not been able to confirm all of the reports yet. Damage assessment is still underway as residents continue to self-report damage. Residents may report property damage to OCEM using the county's online tool,
The storms caused significant damage to Maple View Farms, and many trees were reported down in the area south of Exit 261 off Interstate 40 (Old NC 86). One unoccupied house was destroyed. The area around the Sportsplex also received considerable damage, as did a parking lot at Durham Tech in the Waterstone area..
Governor Roy Cooper toured the damage at Maple View Farms on Saturday afternoon and met with affected residents on Leslie Drive, which lost many trees and had several residences damaged.
Orange County Emergency Management would like to remind residents to be cautious when dealing with contractors for debris removal. Vet them properly and make sure they are bonded and insured. Do not pay for services in advance.
Residents should also be cautious when clearing debris, as many storm-related injuries occur during the clean-up stage.