KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) – Gov. Roy Cooper reminded people to stay vigilant with Tropical Storm Debby approaching the state.

Already one person has died in Wilson County when their home was hit by a tornado this morning.

Cooper was visiting National Guard members activated and members of swift water rescue teams at the armory in Kinston.

“We ask North Carolinians to be careful, to be safe, to pay attention to local officials, particularly if live in low-lying areas that may be prone to flooding,” said the governor.

During a briefing with reporters, phone alerts went off as Lenoir County was placed under its third tornado warning so far today.

Cooper also visited the site of Springfield Middle School where a possible tornado heavily damaged the 6th and 7th grade portions of the school.

“Thank God the children were not there when this storm hit,” Cooper said at a news briefing at the school afterwards. “What a devastating blow to this school.”

When asked about the damage to the school, Cooper said he was amazed at how the storm damaged one part of the school, leaving another part untouched.

“Its amazing how devastating a tornado can be, but also how targeted it can be,” Cooper said, referring to the heavy damage to the two sections of the school while leaving another section used by 8th grade classes virtually untouched.

Cooper said 125,000 homes are without power in the state, while swift water rescue teams have been activated.

The state says 16 shelters are open in North Carolina with Bladen, Brunswick, and Moore counties ordering voluntary evacuations.

Emergency management says for a brief time, I-95 in Lumberton and I-40 near Burgaw, had water on both interstates.

The governor said with rain still coming down, the storm is not over and people need to continue to pay close attention as Debby moves through the state.