Beryl-spawned twister hits N.C.

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MIAMI, May 30 (UPI) -- Post-Tropical Depression Beryl generated a tornado Wednesday that damaged dozens of homes in the small North Carolina town of Peletier, authorities said.

The twister, which the National Weather Service confirmed was EF 1 to EF 2 in strength, damaged as many as 70 homes in the coastal community of about 500 people, destroying five of them, WNCT-TV, Greenville, said. No injuries had been reported.

Red Cross disaster team members had started helping those affected by the tornado and Carteret County sheriff's deputies were to patrol the area through the night, the TV station said.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami downgraded Beryl to a post-tropical depression in its 5 p.m. EDT advisory, but WNCT-TV said the National Weather Service had issued a flood watch for the area.

The hurricane center said in its final advisory for Beryl the system was moving to the east-northeast with sustained top winds of about 35 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Beryl first came ashore with 70 mph winds near Jacksonville Beach, Fla., early Monday, CNN said.

Midway, Fla., received a total of 12.65 inches of rain from Beryl.