Caraleigh Mills Raleigh Tornado Damage – April 17, 2011

April 17th, 2011

I was in Charlotte yesterday for a photo trip when I noticed a tornadic storm approaching downtown Raleigh 45 minutes out. Unable to do anything from there, I hoped my house wasn’t in the direct path. It turns out it was or was near ground zero. I’m lucky to have not sustained as much damaged to my house as others in my neighborhood. Here are unedited photographs from the scene today:

Uprooted tree damage with Raleigh Skyline
Uprooted tree damage with Raleigh Skyline
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Transformer and utility poll down on a van along Maywood Avenue
Transformer and utility poll down on a van along Maywood Avenue
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Severe tornado damage to Earp's Seafood on South Saunders
Severe tornado damage to Earp’s Seafood on South Saunders
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Beau surveys my back yard (recall snow picture from last year)
Beau surveys my back yard (recall snow picture from last year)
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
This building lost its big yellow roof
This building lost its big yellow roof
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Maywood Avenue tornado damage in Caraleigh Mills
Maywood Avenue tornado damage in Caraleigh Mills
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Snapped trees from April 16, 2011 Tornado that hit Raleigh, NC
Snapped trees from April 16, 2011 Tornado that hit Raleigh, NC
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
My house in Caraleigh Mills.  Damage to the front porch.
My house in Caraleigh Mills. Damage to the front porch.
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
The tree root diameter is about 10 feet
The tree root diameter is about 10 feet
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Damage to Caraleigh Mills smoke stack
Damage to Caraleigh Mills smoke stack
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
There was a tree here, no where to be found
There was a tree here, no where to be found
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Caraleigh Mills Condominiums has a lot of damage
Caraleigh Mills Condominiums has a lot of damage
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Residents of Caraleigh Mills return to claim there belongings
Residents of Caraleigh Mills return to claim there belongings
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Maywood Avenue in Caraleigh Mills Tornado Damage
Maywood Avenue in Caraleigh Mills Tornado Damage
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Raleigh Skyline can be seen above the damaged Earp's Seafood building
Raleigh Skyline can be seen above the damaged Earp’s Seafood building
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Roof torn off of a home in Caraleigh Mills
Roof torn off of a home in Caraleigh Mills
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Bent metal fence around Caraleigh Mills
Bent metal fence around Caraleigh Mills
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
Metal and brick fence damaged by Tornado
Metal and brick fence damaged by Tornado
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.
My yard the day before the tornado hit.
My yard the day before the tornado hit.
Request a print of this photograph. Link to this photograph.

Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    April 17th, 2011 at 3:14 pm (#)

    Those pictures are really scary… It’s so hard for me to even imagine that storm…
    It’s good to know that you guys are ok, though!

  2. Anonymous says:

    April 17th, 2011 at 4:24 pm (#)

    Glad ya’ll weren’t home during the storm. As sad as this subject is, I do love that your dog is helping with the cleanup process. Glad your house is still mostly intact, as for your yard… well… it looks like someone has a green thumb and I’m sure they will be back to planting as soon as it is all cleaned up. Good luck with the cleanup, so you can get back to shooting more skyline pics soon. 😛

  3. Anonymous says:

    April 17th, 2011 at 5:07 pm (#)

    Most important, you, Beth and Beau are fine… It is sad to see your property damaged, even if it is minimal when compared to other homes, but still… I will thank you for the photos, though, because I was planning of coming to your neighborhood and take a few of my own.

  4. Anonymous says:

    April 17th, 2011 at 8:48 pm (#)

    You should get some pics around Shaw U. It is terrible over there. Estey Hall suffered some major damage.

  5. Anonymous says:

    April 17th, 2011 at 8:48 pm (#)

    And city cemetery.

  6. Anonymous says:

    April 18th, 2011 at 2:13 am (#)

    I live on Hargett St. and it is rather trashed…. I felt bad for the hiptsers who were trying to carry their turqoise fixies on the way to Times.

  7. Anonymous says:

    April 18th, 2011 at 5:42 pm (#)

    Thanks for the photos. I grew up at 212 Summit Ave in Caraleigh. That is directly across the street from the Caraleigh Baptist Church Education Bldg. I planted all of the trees that lined the south boundary of the chruch grounds 55 years ago as an Eagle Scout service project.. I think all the trees were felled by the tornado. Too bad. I always felt they were “my” trees.

    Joe Baker

  8. Anonymous says:

    April 19th, 2011 at 2:07 pm (#)

    Thank you very much for posting these pitures. I am glad you are safe. I heard that Caraleigh Mills across the way is being condemned for the time being, until its repaired. I love your dog!

  9. Anonymous says:

    April 19th, 2011 at 4:45 pm (#)

    Thanks for the tour of Caraleigh. I lived there until I was 12 years old and returned in the last 70’s. There are some wonderful and strong people in this community but they are aging. I hope the current generation can put new life in Caraleigh.

  10. Anonymous says:

    April 19th, 2011 at 11:02 pm (#)

    Thanks for the pictures Matt. I grew up in Caraleigh (159 Gilbert) and can’t help but feel sadden by all the damage to my old neighborhood and hope that the homes and the streets are restored quickly.

  11. Anonymous says:

    April 27th, 2011 at 6:08 am (#)

    So glad I live in Garner. The storm did damage everywhere around us, but it didn’t hit us that bad. I’m hurting for all the folks in my homecity that were affected though.

    On a side note, Chubby’s tacos is even better when a natural disaster has caused the road to get there to be covered in huge trees and has flooded the parking lot.

Leave a Comment




Caraleigh Mills Raleigh Tornado Damage – April 17, 2011


Want to use RaleighSkyline.com photographs for commercial purposes? Please see the image licensing page.