Brunswick County Tornado: Where It Struck

On the evening of February 15, 2021, a powerful EF-3 tornado swept across southwestern Brunswick County, North Carolina, leaving a 22-mile path of destruction in its wake. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Old Georgetown Road SW and Angel Trace Road, damaging trees and strengthening as it moved northeastward. With wind speeds of up to 160 mph, the tornado caused severe damage to homes, businesses, and power lines in the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighbourhood, resulting in three fatalities and ten injuries. This tornado was the deadliest in southeastern North Carolina since the 2006 Riegelwood tornado and the strongest recorded in Brunswick County since the 1950s.

The tornado's path of destruction

On Monday, February 15, 2021, a tornado ripped through Brunswick County, North Carolina, leaving a 22-mile path of destruction in its wake. The tornado first touched down near the intersection of Old Georgetown Road SW and Angel Trace Road at 11:34 p.m., classified as an EF-0. It then moved to the northeast over forest land, rapidly intensifying to an EF-2 as it approached N.C. 904.

Crossing N.C. 904, the tornado snapped trees and caused moderate damage to a large metal building and a church. As it entered Ocean Ridge Plantation, its wind speeds reached 125 mph as an EF-2, with hundreds of trees snapped and many homes sustaining minor to moderate damage. The tornado then crossed over Rosebury Court SW, strengthening to its maximum intensity of 160 mph as a high-end EF-3. Two homes were completely destroyed in this area, with several more sustaining moderate to major damage.

As the tornado moved across Windsor Circle, it reached its maximum path width of 275 yards, although winds decreased to 115 mph. It then crossed U.S. 17 as an EF-1 before re-intensifying as an EF-2, causing severe damage to several homes and snapping hundreds of trees. The tornado continued on a path of destruction through forest and swamp land across Highway 130 and Highway 211 before finally lifting approximately three miles east of Highway 211, after passing west of the Bear Pen airstrip.

The tornado left a trail of devastation in its wake, with three people killed and at least 10 injured. It destroyed or heavily damaged several homes, with the majority of the damage occurring in the Ocean Ridge Plantation community. The tornado also caused power outages, leaving nearly 40,000 people without electricity. The Red Cross responded to the scene, providing support and assistance to those affected by the storm.

Fatalities and injuries

On the night of February 15, 2021, a powerful EF-3 tornado swept across southwestern Brunswick County, North Carolina, causing severe damage to homes in the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighbourhood. The tornado left three people dead and ten injured, with all the injuries and fatalities occurring in the Ocean Ridge Plantation area. This was the only tornado on record to cause fatalities in Brunswick County.

The tornado first touched down near the intersection of Old Georgetown Road SW and Angel Trace Road in the Sea Trail Golf Resort near Sunset Beach, damaging trees and strengthening as it moved northeastward. When it reached NC Highway 904 (Seaside Rd), it damaged a church, a large metal building, and overturned a number of RVs. Continuing on its path, the tornado crossed Saw Pit Swamp and entered the Ocean Ridge Plantation community, where it became exceptionally powerful, damaging or destroying a large number of well-built brick homes.

The tornado crossed US Highway 17 near the entrance to Ocean Ridge Plantation, rolling over a double-wide mobile home on the north side of the highway. It then continued moving northeastward through the woods, approaching Green Bay Road NW and causing unusual damage to large metal power poles. Additional homes were damaged, and an attached storage building was destroyed along Old Shallotte Road. The tornado continued on its path, crossing Whiteville Road (NC Highway 130) and Federal Road NW before finally lifting after crossing Green Swamp Road (NC Highway 211).

The National Weather Service's survey of the tornado's path showed a 22-mile path of destruction, with wind speeds of up to 160 mph and a damage swath up to 275 yards wide. This tornado was the deadliest in southeastern North Carolina since the Riegelwood tornado in Columbus County in 2006 and the strongest in Brunswick County since records began in 1950. The Brunswick County Sheriff described the damage as "something unlike I've ever seen", and Governor Roy Cooper called the tornado "devastating".

Emergency response

On the evening of February 15, 2021, a powerful EF-3 tornado swept across southwestern Brunswick County, North Carolina, causing severe damage and fatalities. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Old Georgetown Road SW and Angel Trace Road, and continued on a 22-mile path of destruction, causing extensive damage to homes, commercial buildings, and power lines.

The emergency response to the Brunswick County tornado was immediate and comprehensive, involving multiple agencies and organizations. Here is an overview of the key emergency response efforts:

• Brunswick County Emergency Services: Brunswick County Emergency Services, including multiple fire and law enforcement agencies, were on the scene immediately after the tornado. They assessed the damage, cleared debris from roads, and coordinated search and rescue efforts. The director of Emergency Management, Ed Conrow, played a crucial role in leading the response and communicating with the public.
• First Responders and Search and Rescue Teams: First responders from across the county and neighboring communities assisted with search and rescue operations. The Wilmington Fire Department deployed their Regional Response Team and Search and Rescue Team to help locate missing persons. Specialized search and rescue teams were also brought in due to the complexity of the collapsed homes and unstable structures.
• Power Restoration: Power outages affected approximately 35,000 customers in the area, and power transmission lines built to withstand major winds were downed by the tornado. Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) crews worked to assess the damage and restore power. By Wednesday evening, power was fully restored to all customers.
• The American Red Cross: The American Red Cross established a staging area at St. Luke's Lutheran Church to provide assistance and shelter to those displaced by the tornado. They worked closely with community partners and emergency management to assess the damage and support those in need. Red Cross volunteers provided canteen services for affected individuals and emergency responders.
• Temporary Shelters: Temporary shelters were set up by county officials to accommodate those who needed to evacuate their homes due to damage or instability.
• State and Government Support: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vowed to allocate state resources to help rebuild destroyed homes and businesses. He also emphasized the importance of improving weather warning systems to provide more time for people to seek safety.

The emergency response to the Brunswick County tornado was a collaborative effort involving local, state, and non-governmental organizations. Despite the challenges posed by the tornado's rapid intensification and the resulting damage, the response was swift and focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of the affected community.

Storm warnings

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 11:33 pm on Monday, February 15, 2021, in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Just six minutes later, at 11:39 pm, the NWS Wilmington office issued a tornado warning.

The tornado touched down at 11:34 pm near the intersection of Old Georgetown Road SW and Angel Trace Road in the Sea Trail Golf Resort near Sunset Beach. At this point, the tornado was classified as an EF-0, with wind speeds estimated to have reached 80 mph.

As the tornado moved northeastward, it rapidly intensified, causing severe damage along its path. By the time it crossed NC Highway 904 (Seaside Rd), it had intensified to an EF-2, with winds estimated at 115 mph. It damaged a church, a large metal building, and overturned several RVs.

Continuing its path of destruction, the tornado entered the Ocean Ridge Plantation community, where it became exceptionally powerful, with wind speeds of at least 160 mph, classifying it as a high-end EF-3. The tornado caused significant damage to numerous well-built brick homes, with some homes suffering complete destruction. This was the point of maximum intensity, with a damage swath up to 275 yards wide.

The tornado then crossed US Highway 17, causing major damage to a double-wide mobile home before continuing northeastward through the woods. Additional homes were damaged along Old Shallotte Road, with winds near 135 mph.

The tornado continued its deadly path, crossing Whiteville Road (NC Highway 130) and Green Swamp Road (NC Highway 211), downing hundreds of trees and causing extensive damage. It finally lifted after passing west of the Bear Pen airstrip, having travelled a total of 22 miles.

The tornado left a trail of devastation in its wake, with three fatalities and ten injuries reported. It also caused widespread structural damage, leaving at least 50 homes damaged or destroyed and thousands of people without power.

Despite the swift action of weather services, the storm intensified so quickly that there was little time to respond. The Brunswick County Sheriff, John Ingram, described the damage as "something unlike I've ever seen," and the recovery process was expected to be long and challenging.

Recovery efforts

On the night of February 15, 2021, a powerful EF-3 tornado swept across southwestern Brunswick County, North Carolina, leaving a 22-mile path of destruction in its wake. The tornado resulted in three fatalities and ten injuries, along with extensive property damage, particularly in the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighbourhood.

The tornado caused widespread devastation, ripping through homes, uprooting trees, and damaging commercial buildings and power lines. In response, Brunswick County declared a State of Emergency, allowing for additional resources to support recovery efforts.

The American Red Cross played a crucial role in assisting those affected by the tornado. They established a staging area at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, providing essential support to both the community and emergency responders. The Red Cross worked closely with community partners to assess the damage, coordinate relief efforts, and provide shelter and emotional support to those in need.

The National Weather Service conducted a post-storm damage assessment to better understand the impact of the tornado. They deployed survey teams to determine the length and width of the tornado's path and estimate wind speeds based on the extent of the damage. This information was crucial for improving warning systems and predicting future tornadoes.

Local authorities, including the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Services, played a vital role in the immediate aftermath of the tornado. They coordinated search and rescue efforts, conducted damage assessments, and set up access points to control entry into the affected areas.

The community's resilience was evident through various initiatives, such as the GoFundMe page set up by the Community Association Management Services, which exceeded its fundraising goal. Additionally, volunteers from St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ocean Isle Beach opened their doors as a safe haven for displaced families, providing much-needed support and shelter.

The impact of the tornado was felt across the region, with power outages affecting approximately 35,000 customers at its peak. Brunswick Electric Membership Cooperation worked diligently to restore power, sending crews to work alongside county officials to assess the damage house by house.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper described the damage as "devastating" and pledged state resources to help rebuild destroyed homes and businesses. He toured the affected areas, including the Ocean Ridge Plantation neighbourhood, to assess the situation firsthand and develop strategies to improve early warning systems for severe storms.

Frequently asked questions