Family of 6 escapes before storm destroys home in Caldwell County

CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Dozens of families are starting the long and difficult task of clearing debris from storm damage in Caldwell County.

One of the hardest hit homes is at the intersection of Mount Herman Road and Fairwood Drive, where Alexander Woods lives with his wife and four young children. The family is now trying to clear all the debris.

[IMAGES: Severe storms sweep through Carolinas]

“This section of roof that was over the living room right here and the laundry room, and what sat on the garage, is now sitting in the driveway,” Woods said.

Woods and his family made a harrowing escape from their home during the storm, right before powerful winds ripped off the roof of their house.

“I told my wife to grab the diapers and wipes,” Woods said. “If we had to pack a bag, we would’ve been stuck here.”

As the family raced to safety, they saw a funnel cloud heading toward them. They took shelter at Woods’s mother’s home.

"We looked across the road and we could see the tornado coming,” Woods said. “We pulled in her driveway and went in her basement and it was a matter of 30 seconds and trees were snapping."

Once the winds subsided, the Woods family returned home to find that their garage was crushed and their roof was gone. The storm had also scattered their belongings all over their property.

The family was able to salvage some clothes and moved some furniture to a dry part of the home.

While the family lost so much, Woods said they still have what matters most.

“Everything else can be replaced but this. We got our three boys and we finally got Chloe, our little baby girl,” Woods said.

The family is staying with a relative for the next few months while they try to figure out if it’s possible to fix their house and move back in. At this point, it’s too early to determine the full extent of the damage and if it will be covered by insurance.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Unspecified police investigation closes CMS elementary school
• Sheriff: Murders of elderly couples playing cards may be gang-related
• Two more York County deputies out after allegations of sex on duty
• VIDEO: Vicki Graf's Tuesday forecast outlook
• Procession to be held for firefighter killed while clearing storm debris
• 2 high school students suspended after loaded gun found in class

Cox Media Group