ROCKY POINT, N.C. - Tornadoes spun from the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie touched down Friday in eastern North Carolina, killing a toddler and two adults in a trailer park, damaging buildings and knocking out power.
More than two dozen people in the area were injured, officials said.
The deaths came as the area waited to see whether Hurricane Charley would follow Bonnie's path.
Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency across the state.
"Bonnie came right over the top of us," Sheriff Carson Smith said. "Hopefully, we'll have most of our emergency operations over by the time (Charley) gets here."
Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards and his family cut short their vacation on Figure Eight Island because of the storm.
The 18-month-old girl and two men were killed at a mobile home park in Rocky Point, north of Wilmington, said Andie Thomas, director of the emergency department at Pender Memorial Hospital.
At least 15 people were hurt in the trailer park, including the girl's parents, Thomas said.
Victim Julio Pacheco, 28, a native of Mexico, had lived in the United States about eight years and worked with a tree removal service, said his brother, Flavio Gonzalez.
Also killed was David Jordan, 26, the Star-News of Wilmington reported.
Shane Leonard, the brother of Jordan's girlfriend, said Jordan had two of his children in his arms when their mobile home collapsed. Rescuers saved the children, but could not help Jordan, he said.
