Wilmington StarNews The tornado that devastated communities in southeastern Brunswick County late Monday left residents with little time to prepare. Carol Phillips said she didn't have time to reach her mother in another part of the house as debris began flying through her home's windows. Theah DiSpirito and her family huddled in a hallway bathroom to ride out the storm. Janet Poremski said she received a tornado alert, but by the time it came through the tornado had already hit and moved on. Others say they weren't notified at all. Inconsistent alert systems A late-night phone call from her daughter in New York alerted Darla Tonkin to the tornado wreaking havoc just miles away from her Shallotte home.