A stubborn Hurricane Irene made a destructive path across the area today, downing trees, power lines and slamming trees into houses.

Countless trees have slammed into houses and even more have blocked streets throughout the area.

Curfews have been announced in Weldon, Halifax and Northampton counties and alcohol sales have been banned.

In Weldon late this afternoon, strong winds blew a portion of the roof off the older Evangelistic Church of Deliverance. The winds carried the roof across Sycamore Street where it slammed into the Weldon Fire Department.

Fire Chief Rusty Bolt said arrangements would have to be made to park the engines that are normally kept there.

In Roanoke Rapids earlier today public work crews dealt with numerous downed trees, some which have smashed into houses.

The town of Weldon has established a curfew which began tonight at 6 and ends at 6 Sunday morning. Northampton County established a curfew which began at 8 tonight. Northampton also suspended alcohol sales this morning. Halifax County established a curfew which began at 8. Alcohol sales were also suspended.

Roanoke Rapids Interim Public Works Director Larry Chalker said crews received the first call of a downed tree around 3:30 this morning and have been responding to calls since then. “Halifax emergency management has done a wonderful job keeping us informed.”

Scanner traffic in Roanoke Rapids shortly after 2:30 this afternoon reported more trees falling across the city and a source reported a sign at White Motors had fallen onto a Cadillac there. There was also a report of a tree falling into a house in Northampton County.

Chalker some of the downed trees caused fires on power lines and there are least three reports in Roanoke Rapids of trees falling into houses.

There have been no injuries reported in Halifax or Northampton counties, officials said this afternoon.

Thus far there have been minimal flooding issues within the city, Chalker said. The public works department spent most of the week with the street sweeper out. Later in the week, “We put every man we had cleaning storm drain grates.”

Chalker thus far the storm water drainage was working well but if the rains continued as expected, they could become inundated.

The city will be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement dollars. “We're tracking our manpower, what equipment we use. We're tracking minute by minute every call we get.”

In Northampton County, Public Information Officer Gary Brown said tropical force winds were blowing through the county, with sustained winds clocking in at 50 miles per hour.

Widespread power outages were reported throughout the county. Brown said 80 coastal evacuees were staying at the designated shelter in Jackson, while 14 were at Conway Middle School and six at Northampton High School West.

In Halifax County Highway 97 in Hobgood was closed, Public Information Officer Ginny Orvedahl said. There were reports of minor flooding in Scotland Neck and Enfield.