Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
A mother and daughter are picking up the pieces of their home after it was crushed by a falling tree in last week’s storm.
Johnnie Mae Wilson and her daughter, Erica, were awakened around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 11 to branches and limbs crashing into their Blackville home.
Before the tree fell, she recalls praying for safety.
“I was praying, ‘Please God don’t let that tree on my end fall on the house. Please keep us safe,’” said Wilson.
Two bedrooms and a bathroom were damaged inside Wilson’s home in addition to the roof and external damages done by the falling tree.
Wilson and her daughter are still shaken from the incident, but sustained few injuries. Both have been working to remove salvageable items from the home while they stay with relatives.
Wilson has owned the home on Izlar Street since 1991 and has been a Blackville resident all her life.
“We are thankful for everybody that is reaching out to us,” said Wilson.
Due to damages done to the bedrooms and bathroom, she is accepting donations to replace what was lost such as bedsheets, bathroom supplies, and other items. Donations can be made to Wilson’s home at 566 Izlar Street, Blackville, S.C. 29817.
The storm raged on through the night on Wednesday, April 10 and into the following day.
Including the one that fell on Wilson’s home, Barnwell County Emergency Management Director Roger Riley estimates over 25 large trees came down in the storm.
A 53 miles-per-hour (mph) gust of wind was recorded at the Barnwell County Airport amidst the storm, with high speeds starting at 44 mph across the county.
Riley explained the storm was mainly on the western side of the county near Snelling, with a handful of incidents on the eastern side near Blackville.
No major or significant power outages were reported. A few areas in Barnwell County did not have power entering Thursday morning, but it was restored soon after.
