HICKORY, N.C. — Hickory firefighters responded to a partial roof collapse around 11:45 a.m. Friday.
Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the building and could see the damage to its roof along 1st Avenue Northwest.
An owner of Carolina Insurance Co. said the roof collapsed Thursday night during the storm, but the staff discovered it Friday morning.
Meteorologist Jaclyn Shearer said that 30 mph winds accompanied heavy rain, which caused flooding and destroyed some of the office's electronic equipment.
Employees are unable to work there because of the extensive damage, and they don't expect to be back inside anytime soon.
“It'll be a long time. We'll have to find a temporary headquarters,” business owner Carroll Holland said.
Holland is one of the insurance business owners, and also the building owner.
He has been in the insurance business for many years and said his company has all the coverage it needs to get back on its feet.
“The complete roof is going to have to be replaced,” Holland said.
The concern is what will happen between now and the time the repair is done.
“The roof is open, and if a rain or anything strong comes, it's going to all obviously end up inside,” Holland said. “If nature comes, it'll visit us.”
Firefighters said they secured the structure and requested that building inspection personnel come to the scene.
Power was disconnected, and the two businesses in the building have been deemed unsafe.
No injuries were reported.
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