Bonner saw the storm approach and hoped she would be safe inside - moments before the house imploded.
"And that's when the wind started to blowing and the lights were blinking," Bonner said. "That's when I walked into next room and that's when everything started."
She escaped unharmed.
But not far away, Gov. Pat McCrory visited a family whose child was critically injured by the storm.
"To have a very young baby get killed while their mother was trying to protect her is heartbreaking, and our hearts and prayers go out to the entire family," McCrory said.
The Governor said he spoke with all families affected by the storm away from the media, to avoid further discomfort at this difficult time in their lives.
His tour of hard hit neighborhoods included Chowan and Beaufort counties.
"This is like we've had a hit and run driver go through five counties and cause massive destruction," McCrory said. "But the resilience of some of these families is just amazing."
Help is on the way for those families.
"The damage assessment team's coming in to process what has happened, to help those who don't have insurance or are underinsured," said Frank Perry, with the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
