UPDATE: Gaston County continues cleanup efforts after tornado, storm

On Thursday afternoon, Gaston County gave an update on damage and recovery from storms that blew through the region Wednesday evening.

Here's what we know:

• National Weather Service teams are investigating damage in Gastonia, but have already determined an EF-1 tornado with max wind speeds of 110 mph went through Cleveland County, into Cherryville and ended in the Tryonata area in northwestern Gaston County Wednesday afternoon.
• The percentage of Gaston County residents and businesses without power has dropped from over 40% to just below 24% as of 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
• The Citizens Resource Center, 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Highway, Dallas, now has power and will be used by the Red Cross as an emergency shelter for displaced residents.
• Work is ongoing to clear trees, downed power lines and debris. There are still a number of side road closures. Municipalities are trying to track and update those.
• Gaston County Emergency Management provided a generator to Lowell to help get a pump station running and provided barricades to help keep roads closed in Ranlo while cleanup efforts continue. County officials urge residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary to give crews time and space to get repairs and recovery work made.
• There are no new injuries to report beyond the one driver killed and one passenger hospitalized when a tree fell on an SUV Wednesday afternoon.
• Gaston County State of Emergency will remain in place through at least noon Friday.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: UPDATE: Gaston County continues cleanup efforts after tornado, storm