Twisters Hit S. Carolina Mobile Homes; 35 Hurt

Tornadoes slashed through three mobile home parks Saturday, throwing children into the air and injuring at least 35 persons in the second tornado blitz spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Danny.

Officials said the twisters struck near the junction of Interstate 26 and Interstate 85 about 12:50 p.m. No deaths were reported.

Highway Patrol Cpl. R. T. Adams said that a twister cut a 200-yard swath through the Holly Mobile Home Park and that “people told me some children were just blown out of the trailers.”

20 Homes Destroyed

At least 20 mobile homes were destroyed in the park and Spartanburg County emergency officials said National Guard troops were called out to seal off the area to prevent looting.

Red Cross volunteer Margaret Robinette said persons shopping at a flea market near the Holly Mobile Home Park “started running and screaming that they saw a twister coming.”

“Everybody was running in the concession area and diving under the stoves where they make the pizzas,” Robinette said.

The injured were taken to Spartanburg General Hospital. Most were treated and released, but three--including a small girl--suffered injuries serious enough for surgery, hospital spokesman John Thomason said.

Girl Suffers Eye Injury

Christy Butler, 2, was operated on for an eye injury and Harzie Wilkins, 47, and Annie Bea Pyles, 32, underwent surgery for storm injuries, Thomason said.

The nearby Green Acres and Anchor trailer parks also were damaged by the twister, but not as severely as Holly, authorities said.

“They had no warning whatsoever,” Adams said. “I talked to a fellow I know there, and he said it shook his mobile home just like an automobile.”

About 2,000 customers were without electricity, Duke Power officials said.

Red Cross workers set up shelters in a church and a Spartanburg hotel for persons left homeless by the storm.

Twelve Planes Demolished

Elsewhere, a tornado or high winds destroyed 12 of the 15 planes tied down at the Jackson County airport in northeastern Georgia, said Dwayne Smith, county emergency management director. The roof was lifted off the airport building, destroying 90% of the facility, he said. He estimated damages at $700,000.