6/2/2011 - By Zachary Bilderback

Last month North Carolina was hit by several devastating tornadoes. I have lived in NC most of my life and experienced hurricanes but I have not experienced damage like this tornado left behind. Many people were left without power, water, and even homes. Several tornadoes created paths landing in counties throughout the state. A heavily affected area was southeast of Raleigh in the city of Sanford. A longtime Harrell’s customer, David Watson, owner of Watson’s Nursery in Sanford, NC was tragically hit by one of these tornadoes. This storm damaged not only his business but destroyed his home that was also on the property.

David and his wife heard the storm and quickly took shelter in the basement. David said the storm was so powerful that the force nearly pulled them from the basement. After the storm passed David called me to let me know that he would not need the order he had just placed a few days before. I knew something was wrong, and David went on to tell me that his house and nursery had been destroyed.

First thing Monday morning I headed to Sanford to lend a helping hand. As I drove up I was shocked to see the damage. It was overwhelming and hard to know where to start. Half of his house was gone, trees were uprooted and lying across plant beds, trash scattered in every direction, and almost every greenhouse had been flattened.

I was amazed to see how many people had joined together to help. I teamed up with Sean Gurkin from Old Courthouse Nursery to help move the surviving plants to beds that still had functioning irrigation. Some of the other nurserymen from Johnston County were repairing pumps, fixing main irrigation lines, and removing debris. By the end of the day much had been accomplished but we had only scratched the surface.

After talking with Norman Lafaille, Harrell’s Regional Sales Manager and Rick Helpinstine, Harrell’s VP of Horticulture Sales, Harrell’s supported the relief efforts by donating pallets of fertilizer, pre-emergent, and booster. David was extremely appreciative as this was a large part of what he would need to get back on his feet.