Tornado destroys house in NC, man found dead inside identified

LUCAMA, N.C. (WTVD) -- A man was found dead Thursday morning inside a home damaged by a tornado, Wilson County Communications director confirmed.

The two-story home was one of at least 10 homes damaged by the tornado overnight.

The man, who was later identified as Bryan Barnes, was found in his bedroom on the first floor, presumed sleeping in bed at the time the tornado hit, according to Chief Walt Williamson with the Rock Ridge Fire Department.

"It was a very dangerous operation," Chief Williamson said. "The house had to be stabilized before we did anything...We had to stabilize as we went. Tornadoes are very dangerous. You can see the damage they do."

Barnes' sister Pam said she saw the warnings and tried to reach her brother.

"I called him or texted him about 3:15. 'Are you OK?' Didn't hear from him," she said.

Two crews, including a FEMA incident support team, were involved in the search.

Many had been seen frantically looking for their neighbor Thursday morning.

Norman Poler, a friend of Barnes, rushed down to the destroyed home on Loyd Road to help with the search. Search crews later confirmed the worst-case scenario, leaving Barnes' loved ones heartbroken.

"I just didn't want to believe anything. I still don't want to believe anything," Pam said.

WATCH | Man speaks after friend found dead in tornado-damaged Wilson Co. home


Poler said he was grateful his life was spared. He woke up early, and God told him to put his shoes on and look out the back door.

"I dropped down to my knees, and went to praying," he said. "'You know Lord, I worked all my life for what I got here. Please don't take it.' (The storm) went right in the backyard. I (saw) debris flying."

Neighbors told ABC11 that almost everyone has lived in the homes all their lives. They described the moments the tornado ripped through their community overnight.

Evelyn Scott, who lives in the next house over from Barnes said she waited out the storm in an interior bathroom in her home with her dog and husband.

"It was scary. It was, you know, the unknown...you can't see. You have no windows. You can't see...And it was just a time for prayer," she said.

Scott told Eyewitness News Barnes had the biggest heart and that the house had been in his family for decades. She said his mother, who is now in her 90s, also grew up in the home

"When we went to bed everything was right with the world, and at 2 o'clock when we got the warning on the phone, we had no idea we would get up to such a tragedy," Scott said.

WATCH | Fire Chief Walt Williamson talks tornado damage to Wilson Co. house


Springfield Middle School on Wiggins Mill Road was also destroyed.