Family monitoring Channel 9 storm coverage: 'Thank you for saving our lives'

GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — On Tuesday morning, Channel 9 crews visited downtown Granite Falls and saw a trail of destruction.

Main Street was difficult to access because of all the downed trees and scattered debris and power lines.

Businesses were damaged, and a tractor-trailer could be seen on its side, flipped by the strong winds.

Strong winds peeled the siding off of a funeral home, as well as the roof of a nearby building. Close by, more homes were damaged, including one with a destroyed chimney.

Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito spoke to a family who was watching Channel 9. They were watching a weather cut-in at 4:30 p.m. when reporter Dave Faherty took cover while at the Hickory Regional Airport.

"I think it was more of the expression he had when the storm was on top of him, when the rain hit him and you see him go for cover," Ben Sigmon said.

Sigmon said once he saw those live pictures on Channel 9 he pulled his wife, Tanya, and his 7-year-old daughter, Danielle, into a bathroom to take cover.

"I heard a big roaring sound and that's about all you heard and the winds blowing real hard," Sigmon said. "Danielle was scared. She was all crying up on my lap. God protected us."

The storm only last a few minutes. When the Sigmon family went outside afterwards they found damage to their roof and some downed trees.

“Thank you for saving our lives, because although we didn't sustain the damage they did next door, it could have easily been,” Sigmon said.

Just across the street from Sigmon’s house is a pile of rubble where a brick building used to stand.

Sigmon said he feels very lucky that his family took cover in time and were not hurt.

Chainsaw crews with the North Carolina Forestry Service and all fire departments in the area are beginning to move the trees.

Homeowners are asked to call 828-426-8605 to report damages.

[Chopper 9 flies over storm damage]

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