Early Sunday, the Midlands saw an unexpected storm frenzy. Three tornadoes, including a powerful EF-1 with winds up to 95 mph, swept through the area. The strongest one struck Winnsboro, knocking down trees and cutting power for many.

Lori Bryant, a resident of Fairfield County, was caught off guard. "I was just turning on the news when the alert came on, " she said. "A tornado was spotted in Winnsboro, so we rushed to a safe spot. " Right as they took shelter, they heard a loud boom. A large pine tree had crashed into Bryant's parked car.

The EF-1 tornado touched down just south of Winnsboro at 8:56 a. m. , barely grazing Bryant's neighborhood. Two additional EF-0 tornadoes hit nearby areas around the same time.

Nearby, Dominic, a neighbor, was dealing with the aftermath. "Power lines are down, and trees are everywhere, " he said. His power had been out for over 24 hours. "It was unbelievable. Seven trees fell along my property line, taking the power lines with them, " he recalled.

Bryant, who's lived in the area for a decade, had never seen such a storm. But she was prepared with backup batteries and lights. "Keep your camping gear ready, " she advised. "It makes a big difference if the power goes out. "

Storm Fury: Midlands Hit by Three Tornadoes

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