Storms Kill Twin Girls In Rutherford County Mobile Home

Twin 18-year old girls were killed as severe storms moved through the Upstate and western North Carolina Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

The teenagers, identified as Celia and Laticia Arzola, were killed just after midnight when a large oak tree crashed into the middle of their mobile home on Spurlin Road in Ellenboro, North Carolina according to fire chief Terry Horn. 

Fire Chief Terry Horn says the teenage girls and their 21-year old brother tried to do the right thing during the storm by going to the center of the home to seek safety. 

However, a giant tree fell right on the spot where they were gathered. Horn says the victims’ brother was able to make it out, but the girls likely died instantly. 

Neighbors, classmates and school administrators mourned the loss of the sisters Wednesday.

Today at East Rutherford High School counselors were on hand as students and friends found out.

Friends of the twins tell us the deaths have not sunk in yet.

“It’s rough just thinking that in a month they could be walking with us across the field for graduation but they're not going to be able to do that now,” Brandon Barker, a friend of the sisters, said.

The twins went to their prom Saturday night.

They were expected to graduate high school on June 13.

“It's a sad thing for our community we really,” said Chief Horn. “Our hearts go out to the family.”

The storm brought down multiple trees and power lines, but Horn wasn’t aware of any other homes or businesses that had been damaged. 

Downed or low hanging power lines are blamed for two accidents on the roads, but only minor injuries were reported.

Horn says that Rutherford County sustained damage due to the storm but it appears that Ellenboro was the hardest hit.  Their department has handled 25 calls. 

Blacksburg Schools in Cherokee County, SC are closed Wednesday due to power outages because of the overnight storm.  Rutherford County schools opened on a two-hour delay Wednesday.

Rick Peterson with Cherokee County Emergency Management says they have three homes which have sustained significant damage by trees.  He says 100 trees were across roads in the county. 

As of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday all main roads have been cleared.  Peterson says that there are still trees and power lines down on some back roads.  He also cautions there are still power lines down around the area and people need to stay away from them.

Broad River Electric crews report service has been restored to parts of Blacksburg, Whitmire, White Plains and McKown’s Mountain. Broad River electric still reports over 1,300 outages with service expected to be restored by Wednesday afternoon.

Thousands of Duke Energy customers were without power on Wednesday across Western North Carolina and the Upstate.  Duke Energy crews were working to restore power Wednesday.  Check Duke Energy outages by clicking here.

Broad River Electric says last night's storm took out several poles and cross arms and brought down multiple lines, causing power outages to nearly 3,000 Broad River Electric consumers.

The company says the outages were concentrated in the Draytonville and North Blacksburg communities in Cherokee County.  The Buffalo and Meadow Wood areas in Union County also experienced outages as well as Jonesville, Whitmire, Sandy Ford/Casey Creek Roads, and White Plains.

Crews from Broad River and Pike Electric have been working since early Wednesday morning.   Broad River Electric officials estimate full system restoration to occur by 5 p.m. Wednesday.