Governor Beverly Perdue had Roanoke Rapids Fire Chief Gary Corbet explain the tornado damages received in Roanoke Rapids today after a flyover of stricken areas in the city today.

Perdue addressess firefighters, officials and citizens.

Corbet told the governor firefighters were watching weather reports throughout the day. “When it looked like it was going to be directly in our path we were as ready as you can be.”

The fire chief explained to the governor it appears two tornadoes set down in five locations across the city.

They responded to one fire during the storm and discovered the force of the storm blew a vehicle from a dealership into Tenth Street, a call which had initially been reported as a wreck.

Perdue thanked the fire department for all they did during the storm. She talked about the resiliency of North Carolina’s people. “They did the hard stuff Sunday, they started picking up the pieces. On Sunday neighbors came together to start the rehabilitation process.”

Perdue, who had just come from hard hit Bertie County, said the death toll in North Carolina is currently 21. “At the end of the day, the beauty of North Carolina is the strength of its people.”

Congressman G.K. Butterfield said he and others are getting the president to declare a state of emergency in North Carolina, which will open up federal assistance.

Senator Ed Jones told officials and others gathered at Doyle Field, “It’s taken a tragedy like this for us to come together.”

While the government is going help, Jones said, he called on faith and civic communities to help people recover.

Troopers Mike Adair, left, and Troy Wood watch the chopper land.

Perdue said getting the president involved will mean a federal emergency management team will visit hit areas and help citizens through the process. “We’re very hopeful that will happen as quickly as possible. The first pecking order will be the citizens to help them start rebuilding their lives.”

In her visits around the state, Perdue said she has been inspired. “When talking to people whose lives were devastated, they say they don’t want to go to shelters. All they tell you is, ‘Thank God, I’m alive.’ I’ve yet to meet a person who says they need housing right away.”

The governor told rrspin.com once damage assessments are in from across the state, the information will be sent to Washington so the president can declare a federal state of emergency. The governor said that should be done Thursday or Friday.