Carolina Storms Packing Powerful Winds Kill 1

Strong storms packing powerful winds blew through the Carolinas Thursday afternoon and evening, claiming at least one life. The storms also damaged buildings and knocked down trees and power lines.

The victim, identified by his sister as William George Lebby, 61, was killed when a tree fell in Columbia, South Carolina, according to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. while the man was outside, Watts told weather.com.

“The gentleman was hit by a part of a tree that fell,” Watts said.

Lebby's sister, Paula Lebby, said she was at his home when she heard the tree crack and fall.

"I heard that funny sound, and I thought, 'Did he fall?'" she told WLTX. "When I came to the (back) door, I couldn't believe what I saw."

She found her brother and his walker, which she said was "tore up" by the fallen tree.

"I was horrified," she said. "I could not believe it. I said, 'Oh God, no! No! No! Jesus, no! Why? Why?'

"It was scary. It was unbelievable."

More than 10,000 customers remained without power Friday morning in South Carolina as a result of downed trees and power lines.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, a tree fell onto two houses, Spectrum News reported.

“I don’t know if we can salvage anything or not," Cynith Maye, a resident of one of the homes, told a reporter from the network.

Maye had just left to go to the store when the storm hit, so she wasn't home when the tree came crashing through her bedroom.

“I would have been in there and I would have been hurt badly," she said, surveying the damage.

WFMY-TV also showed photos and video of the downed tree.

A tree that was reportedly hit by lightning fell on power lines near Durham, North Carolina.

Trees also blocked roads near Florence, South Carolina, where a woman had to be rescued from a mobile home destroyed by a falling tree.