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

Transformer and utility poll down on a van along Maywood Avenue

Transformer and utility poll down on a van along Maywood Avenue

Uprooted tree

Uprooted tree

Severe tornado damage to Earp's Seafood on South Saunders

Severe tornado damage to Earp's Seafood on South Saunders

Beau surveys my back yard (recall snow picture from last year)

Beau surveys my back yard (recall snow picture from last year)

This building lost its big yellow roof

This building lost its big yellow roof

Maywood Ave sign damage

Maywood Ave sign damage

Coats Auto Body damage from Tornado

Coats Auto Body damage from Tornado

Damage along South Saunders Street

Damage along South Saunders Street

Maywood Avenue tornado damage in Caraleigh Mills

Maywood Avenue tornado damage in Caraleigh Mills

Power lines down on Maywood Ave

Power lines down on Maywood Ave

Tornado Damage in Caraleigh Mills

Tornado Damage in Caraleigh Mills

Tornado damage from Raleigh

Tornado damage from Raleigh

Snapped trees from April 16, 2011 Tornado that hit Raleigh, NC

Snapped trees from April 16, 2011 Tornado that hit Raleigh, NC

Image 136

Image 136

Image 137

Image 137

Tornado Damage to Earp's Seafood

Tornado Damage to Earp's Seafood

Downed trees

Downed trees

My house in Caraleigh Mills.  Damage to the front porch.

My house in Caraleigh Mills. Damage to the front porch.

Image 147

Image 147

Uprooted Pecan tree in my back yard

Uprooted Pecan tree in my back yard

The tree root diameter is about 10 feet

The tree root diameter is about 10 feet

Tree damage

Tree damage

Beau looks around her back yard

Beau looks around her back yard

View of my back yard

View of my back yard

Image 154

Image 154

Image 155

Image 155

Image 156

Image 156

Raleigh Skyline with tornado damage

Raleigh Skyline with tornado damage

Damage to Caraleigh Mills smoke stack

Damage to Caraleigh Mills smoke stack

Workers atop Caraleigh Mills Condos

Workers atop Caraleigh Mills Condos

Image 157

Image 157

Image 159

Image 159

Image 160

Image 160

Bent metal arch

Bent metal arch

There was a tree here, no where to be found

There was a tree here, no where to be found

Bent metal arch

Bent metal arch

Caraleigh Mills Condominiums has a lot of damage

Caraleigh Mills Condominiums has a lot of damage

Residents of Caraleigh Mills return to claim there belongings

Residents of Caraleigh Mills return to claim there belongings

Damaged van from tornado

Damaged van from tornado

Maywood Avenue in Caraleigh Mills Tornado Damage

Maywood Avenue in Caraleigh Mills Tornado Damage

Image 167

Image 167

Raleigh Skyline can be seen above the damaged Earp's Seafood building

Raleigh Skyline can be seen above the damaged Earp's Seafood building

South Saunders street damage

South Saunders street damage

Raleigh Tornado damage

Raleigh Tornado damage

Roof torn off of a home in Caraleigh Mills

Roof torn off of a home in Caraleigh Mills

Maywood Ave damage

Maywood Ave damage

My front porch

My front porch

My side yard

My side yard

Front porch damage

Front porch damage

Missing tree

Missing tree

Overturned Raleigh Trash container

Overturned Raleigh Trash container

Debris gathered in the porch corner

Debris gathered in the porch corner

Leaves plastered on my front door

Leaves plastered on my front door

Caraleigh Mills Tornado damage scene

Caraleigh Mills Tornado damage scene

Downed trees on Maywood Ave

Downed trees on Maywood Ave

Damaged tree on Maywood

Damaged tree on Maywood

Uprooted tree across from my house

Uprooted tree across from my house

Bent metal fence around Caraleigh Mills

Bent metal fence around Caraleigh Mills

Caraleigh Mills Tornado damage

Caraleigh Mills Tornado damage

Image 191

Image 191

Overturned housing

Overturned housing

Broken utility meter

Broken utility meter

Metal and brick fence damaged by Tornado

Metal and brick fence damaged by Tornado

Image 195

Image 195

Caraleigh Mills tornado Damage

Caraleigh Mills tornado Damage

Beau helps with the clean up process

Beau helps with the clean up process

My yard the day before the tornado hit.

My yard the day before the tornado hit.