The Wilmington Fire Department said teams deployed by state emergency management were deployed to locate the missing people.
Earlier, the National Weather Service Wilmington Office reported on structural damage and power lines and urged people to avoid the area.
According to the U.S. Census, there will be approximately 140,000 people living in Brunswick County in 2019.
The storm is part of the larger weather system that is causing brutally cold temperatures in much of the U.S., including a crippling ice storm that swept Texas, causing major power outages.
CNN contacted the Emergency Management Office in Brunswick County for additional details.
Storms will continue in the area and tornado clocks are still valid for eastern North Carolina, according to CNN meteorologist Michael Guy.
Areas north of Wilmington, including the banks of the banks to Elizabeth City, are under surveillance for up to 8 hours.
This is an evolving story and will be updated as more information becomes available.