Charlie Robertson stands in front of what’s left of one end of his home on Highway 21 on the edge of Ridgeway after a giant tree fell on top of it, crushing the kitchen and family room areas of the home. | Photos: Barbara Ball
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Storms moved through Fairfield County between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday bringing rain, high winds and spawning at least one tornado along the east side of the County with many reports of trees down causing considerable damage to structures from Ridgeway to Mitford.
The National Weather Service notified the County offices Monday that a tornado, with winds in excess of 86 miles per hour, touched down in the Ridgeway-Lake Wateree area.
Some of the storm’s worst destruction could be followed from the Ridgeway area north, along Lake Wateree, to the Mitford area, as it toppled giant oak and pine trees in its path. Some of those trees crashed through roofs and sliced into homes causing heavy damage. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees.
Some areas along the storm’s path were reported to be without electricity until Monday.
No injuries have been reported.
-
- Highway 21 between Blythewood and Ridgeway
-
- This home off Smallwood Road was split apart by a large pine tree.
-
- Highway 21 outside of Ridgeway
-
- First responders directed traffic at intersections where traffic lights were out.
-
- Rose Warth surveys the damage left by two trees that crashed into the front and side of her home as well as on to the front of her car.
-
- Fairfield Electric Cooperative trucks quickly rolled into town to repair downed and broken electric wires.
-
- This home on Peach Street in Ridgeway suffered damage when a tree crashed into the porch and roof.
-
- Trees were uprooted at this home on Lake Wateree. | Millie Lambert
-
- High winds damaged the exterior of this Lake Wateree home. | Millie Lambert
