Updated

Updated · WTVD-TV · Jul 29

Falling Tree Kills 71-Year-Old Mike Ferguson in Wake County Home as Storms Cut Power to 12,000

Updated

Updated · WTVD-TV · Jul 29

Falling Tree Kills 71-Year-Old Mike Ferguson in Wake County Home as Storms Cut Power to 12,000

1 articles · Updated · WTVD-TV · Jul 29

Mike Ferguson, 71, was pronounced dead after a large tree crashed into his Wake County home near Raleigh just before 10 p.m. Tuesday during severe storms.
The tree appeared to have been uprooted by heavy rain and damaging winds before slamming into the home's second story; Ferguson was in bed when first responders found him trapped inside.
Two of Ferguson's four daughters were inside the house at the time but were not injured, while deputies and the chief medical examiner continued investigating Wednesday.
About 12,000 Duke Energy customers in Wake County lost power at one point as the storms also flooded streets, toppled trees and damaged homes across the Triangle.

Sources

Beyond the tragic loss, how will this severe storm reshape local approaches to urban forestry and emergency weather alerts?

Did hidden soil saturation or root disease make the fallen tree a ticking time bomb before the storm even hit Raleigh?

With concerts evacuated and infrastructure damaged, just how unprecedented was the severe storm system that tore through the Triangle?

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