COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. — Three tornadoes were confirmed in three counties by the National Weather Service on Tuesday night. 

What You Need To Know

  • The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes touched down in three counties: Bladen, Robeson and Columbus

  • Property and homes were hit

  • Sterling Lennon's backyard sheds and property were damaged 

Bladen, Robeson and Columbus counties were all affected.

Sterling Lennon said the roof was lifted off of his shed and blown onto the dog pen behind his home on Red Store Road in Whiteville. 

Storms, high winds and heavy rains made mincemeat out of Lennon’s backyard.

“I’ve been here all my life,” Lennon said.

The 87-year-old said what Mother Nature did to his backyard was a first.

Some of his farm equipment was somehow unscathed.

“That tractor where it is and that other tractor is where it is. No damage. Thank the good Lord for that,” Lennon said.

Another story is the shed, the roof covering it and where the tornado blew it.

“The dog pen where the top of the storage building ended up right here. You see it?“ he asked.

He pointed to a tall tree bordering a field at the edge of his lawn. Right at the treetop hung a large sheet of scrap metal.

“Yeah, that can stay there,” Lennon said.

Lennon described the moment the tornado touched down.

“A train. Boom. Right quick. It was quick. In about three minutes it was all over,” Lennon said.

Lennon appeared happy when insurance adjusters arrived to assess the damage.

“We won’t have to replace that. We have another flag in the house,” Lennon said as he pointed to a flag pole broken in half and a torn American flag draped the ground.

Lennon said most of the damage should be covered by insurance.