Norfolk neighborhoods clean up from storm's damage

Strong storms rumbled through parts of Norfolk and produced a tornado in Chesapeake on Monday, and the National Weather Service is reporting that more storms could be in the forecast for this week.

Thunderstorms could roll through Hampton Roads late this afternoon throughout Wednesday. But in general, rainfall should be less than an inch and winds should be under 10 mph, the weather service said this afternoon.

Today's high is expected to be about 70 degrees with a 60 percent chance of showers. The low tonight will be about 62 with an 80 percent chance of showers. Wednesday's forecast includes a 60 percent chance of showers with a high of 73 and a low of 65. 

On Monday afternoon, a quick storm of straight-line winds ripped through Ocean View and Bay View in Norfolk, causing the area's heaviest damage. 

Just a few minutes after a tornado watch was issued about 2 p.m. Monday, winds swept through Norfolk and took down trees that then crashed into buildings and electric lines.

More than 6,000 customers lost power, and four elementary schools delayed dismissal until 4 p.m. so emergency crews could make sure roads were clear for school buses. By 5 a.m. today, fewer than 800 customers remained without power, with the largest concentrations of outages in Norfolk, according to Dominion Virginia Power's Web site.

Norfolk Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Harry Worley said two buildings near Lorengo and East Westmont avenues were damaged by trees felled during the storm.

One of the downed trees, an oak several stories high, crushed a one-story brick duplex in the 100 block of E. Lorengo Ave. in Northside, knocking off the chimney of the house next door on its way down. Branches that pierced the front unit of the duplex injured a woman, who was transported by ambulance to a hospital.

She was believed to be the only person seriously hurt, Worley said.

Across the street, George Sweeney, 22, had stepped onto his front porch "to see what it was like."

"It was dark. Clouds were spinning. It sounded like a freight train," he said. "Rain sounded like rocks hitting the window, it was so loud."

The tall oak across the street first leaned toward him, then bent the other way, toward the duplex. "It just started leaning and leaning and leaning and crack - it was gone," he said. "It sounded like a giant cannon going off, and then a crunch and glass breaking."

For blocks around, shredded leaves, downed limbs, and several uprooted trees carpeted streets on either side of Tidewater Drive. Many roads were blocked by police cars or yellow caution tape. Dominion Virginia Power repair trucks lined up north of Bay View Boulevard.

Neighboring communities might not have noticed the storm if it hadn't been for the news.

Chuck Jennings, a Pilot 13 Weather Spotter, reported that nothing happened in the 1000 block of W. Ocean View Ave. He said there were brief gusty winds, a shower and "ominous-looking black clouds" all around.

Back on Lorengo Avenue, Kecia Burtis, 39, was in the back unit of the damaged duplex with her Lhasa apso, Jodie.

She said the wind and hail sounded enough like a tornado that she hopped in her tub, as she had heard on television to do. She called for Jodie and tried to reach her husband on her breaking-up cell phone. The frightened dog obeyed immediately, unusual for her.

"All I know is I never heard that sound before, and I ran," Burtis said.

Inside, Burtis heard a loud "vroom" and said her home shook violently.

"I was so scared," she said.

She said her unit appeared undamaged inside, but stepping outside, she saw that her silver 2005 Dodge Stratus, parked in front, was crushed by a tree. "Our first brand-new car I've ever owned," she said ruefully.

Sweeney, her neighbor, ran to meet her. Others helped the couple in the duplex's front unit, and emergency crews soon arrived.

Family and friends of Burtis soon did, too, hugging her and snapping pictures of the mess. "We're all OK," she reassured a young nephew in her arms.

While crews continued work in Norfolk to restore power and clean up, people in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach were given a more severe weather alert.

Unlike the afternoon tornado watch, residents there were given a warning.

A tornado touched down in Great Bridge at about 7:45 p.m., and traveled about three miles, said Lyle Alexander, a meteorologist with the Weather Service.

For the next 30 minutes, the funnel cloud was tracked, and people in the area took cover.

At Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, customers and employees were instructed to head to the first-floor customer service area as a precaution.

In all, there were only a few reports of minor damage in Chesapeake - mostly a few downed tree limbs. A downed tree in Virginia Beach caused a minor car crash.

Chesapeake is asking anyone with property damage from Monday’s storm report it to the Customer Contact Center.

The city is collecting information about damages for “analysis purposes,” according to a news release from the Chesapeake Fire Department. Residents can do so by calling 382-2489 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or by going to www.cityofchesapeake.net and selecting the Customer Contact Center’s severe weather incident report. 

Pilot writers Michelle Washington, Bill Bartel, Cindy Clayton and Kristin Davis contributed to this report.

Lauren King, (757) 446-2309, lauren.king@pilotonline.com

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