Pfizer facility in North Carolina heavily damaged by tornado packing winds of up to 150 mp

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ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) -- A tornado heavily damaged a large Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina on Wednesday, scattering medicine and other debris around the complex.

Pfizer said its large complex in Rocky Mount was damaged by a twister that tore through Nash County.

"We are assessing the situation to determine the impact on production," the company said. "Our thoughts are with our colleagues, our patients, and the community as we rebuild from this weather incident."

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Fallen trees ripped down part of the fencing along the perimeter of the Pfizer property. Cleanup crews were working to remove debris and make repairs.

The tornado's path started just west of Nashville, traveling northeast through Red Oak, crossing I-95 north of US 64 before running out of energy just before Scotland Neck.

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone said the Pfizer plant stores large quantities of medicine, and he added that debris was spread all around. The plant's warehouse area sustained the brunt of the damage.

"I've got reports of 50,000 pallets of medicine that are strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind," he said.

Pfizer is one of the largest employers in the county.

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