Shocking footage captured the terrifying moment a powerful EF2 tornado tore through Bamberg County, South Carolina on Tuesday. The destructive twister, with winds reaching approximately 125 miles per hour, left a path of devastation in the quaint town, located about 65 miles from Augusta, Georgia.

Images of the aftermath showcased the immense damage caused by the tornado. Two buildings were severely hit, resulting in scattered debris and bricks strewn across the streets of Bamberg. Downed trees and power lines added to the destruction, as revealed in photographs captured in the wake of the disaster.

Justin Bamberg, a representative from Bamberg County, expressed his admiration for the local community's resilience in the face of the tragedy. He highlighted the unity of the small town, with people coming together to assist in the recovery process, armed with trucks, gloves, and chainsaws. Bamberg emphasized that the community would overcome this challenge.

Former South Carolina governor and presidential candidate, Nikki Haley, who grew up in the area, also released a statement in response to the tornado. Haley expressed her sadness at hearing about the storm damage in her hometown, praising the people of Bamberg for their strength and resilience. She recalled the lessons she learned about neighbors helping neighbors and expressed confidence that Bamberg would rebuild stronger than before with the power of love and prayer.

In addition to Bamberg County, an EF1 tornado was reported north of Lake Murray, approximately 24 miles northwest of Columbia, South Carolina. This twister had winds ranging from 86 to 110 miles per hour, causing further damage in the region.

The severe weather that struck the area on Tuesday included heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds. Many towns reported downed power lines and trees as a result. The Northeastern part of the United States bore the brunt of the storm, experiencing floodings, road closures, and widespread power outages. Philadelphia, located along the Delaware River, witnessed its highest storm surge on record.

As the storm moved out of the Northeast, blustery weather continued, with wind gusts reaching as high as 95 mph in Maine. The Pacific Northwest and Rockies saw significant snowfall, with some areas accumulating over 2 feet of snow. Bone-chilling cold was expected to follow in certain regions, and an avalanche in California tragically claimed at least one life as a new storm approached.

Hundreds of thousands of customers across the country faced power outages due to the storms, with New York and Pennsylvania experiencing the highest numbers of affected customers. As of Wednesday afternoon, approximately 250,000 customers remained without power in various regions.

Forecasters cautioned that another storm system could bring heavy rain and high winds to the Northeast on Friday night and into Saturday, potentially exacerbating the existing damage and hindering recovery efforts.