It really isn't.
Hasn't settled in yet.
Neighbors still in shock.
This morning, a tornado tore
through part of Virginia Beach
right around dinner time.
Anywhere from 50 to 100 homes damaged by
that storm. Good morning, every.
I'm Ashley Smith at our studio
in Norfolk, and Dan Kennedy is
live on the ground in Great Nec.
And Ashley, I wish it was
a better morning for folks
out here in Great Neck who have quite
a bit of cleanup ahead of them.
You saw the pictures from that tornado,
and the National Weather Service
confirms it was indeed a tornado
that touched down here last nig.
And they'll be out here a little later
this morning to survey some of this damage.
Now the city of Virginia Beach,
as of this morning has declareda
state of emergency and several schools
around here are closed today bee
of all the damage we're encountering.
That includes Cox High School,
which is just a stone's throw
away from where I stand right n.
Also, Great Neck Middle School and John B.
Dye Elementary, Great Neck Rd.
Is closed between Cox High Schol
and the bridge at Adam Keeling .
Essentially all the way down to Shore Dr.
until crews can clear some of the debris.
Meanwhile, many families procesg
what exactly happened.
Been here last night.
We'll be walking you through
all that this morning,
Craig.
Living in Tennessee and Missouri before this,
I have covered my fair share of tornadoes,
but never been able to stand out here
and report that there have been no injuries.
But that's indeed the case this
morning and we are remarkably
fortunate in that regard.
Yeah, Incredible, Dan,
because this was a powerful toro
that went through the Great Neck area.
You're looking at homes here and this is
an image that I pulled not from Great Neck,
but I wanted to share with you.
This is a an image that is typical and
this was a confirmed EF2 tornado that did
this damage to this well constructed home.
This came from one of our
sister stations down in Texas.
But I wanted to show.
Of you what a confirmed E F2 too
did to a well constructed home d
as we are getting more and more
images in from Great Neck you're
seeing more examples of homes tt
have undergone this type of dam.
So I think we will likely once e
Weather Service gets out there,
takes a look with the sun up
we're going to find this to be a
a very strong E F2 tornado.
Maybe if they find some more
excessive damage in EF3,
but most likely an EF2.
111 to 135 mph with a tornado
of that magnitude,
so a powerful system coming
through last night,
no doubt about it,
and the fact that there were
no injuries and fatalities.
That is just an incredible bles.
We take a look.
Now the other thing some good ns
years we say so long to those storms,
we are dry as we get the day started,
skies are clearing out and that is so
important because there are mule
homes with roof damaged roofs tt
have been taken off in some cass
or opened up and you certainly t
want additional rain pouring inn
on the contents of those homes.
So fortunately as folks go about
cleaning and securing their homes again
and start the rebuild process, the weather.
Today is pretty cooperative.
It will be a little windy.
However, we have winds West of 12 mph.
Take a look at the forecast.
We're going to see winds gusting
at times 25 to even 30 mph.
So it will be breezy.
Highs today around 68.
It's going to check on the ride with Bethany.
Thanks, Craig. Hey, starting wih
a live look over a shore drive.
This is right near Great Neck Rd. where Dan
has gotten on to had a police
escort so he could get a bit cl.
But this is Shore Drive where they're telling
everyone this is a no go for you again.
And Great Neck Rd.
You heard Dan mention it compley
closed between Cox High School.
That's right here,
all the way up to Adam Keeling .
That bridge, Adam Keeling Rd.
So like he said,
essentially up to Shore Drive.
Now Shore Dr.
obviously your detour,
but I am getting reports of some
standing water on Shore Drive.
This isn't completely closing
Shore Drive or closing it at al,
but people are seeing some stang
water and debris on Shore Drive.
So keep that in mind.
I also want to think about these
neighborhoods this morning thate
going to deal with this cleanup.
They're seeing so much.
Going on out there,
so my thoughts with you all this morning,
but again that's right where tht
Great Neck Rd. currently closed.
We're seeing other Rd.
closures obviously in that aread
in that neighborhood of Great N.
So expect delays wherever
you are this morning.
As a reminder,
it's not just Great Neck
that's all issues overnight.
Yes, they saw the brunt of that,
but we are seeing damage in ocean view.
We'll have more on that coming t
6:00 o'clock and then standing water,
a major problem this morning,
Williamsburg right now seeing
standing water on Big Gap Rd.
Skimmenna Rd. Wilson Dr.
closures exist in that area Yorktown.
Standing water on Water Street t
before US17 taking you down to Surry County.
Here we have standing water on Holly Bush Rd.
Sexton Road and Route 618
Closing Holly Bush Rd. Now.
Earlier it was just a lane clos.
Now it's completely closed and
for my Southampton residence.
Story Station Road and Route 61.
Bishop Coaston Road and Route 60
Currently seeing closures and delays.
No full closures here,
but definitely single lane
closures with standing water.
A lot to go over Ashley this morning.
Yeah,
lots
of roads affected
by the aftermath of this storm.
Bethany, thanks.
And we are continuing to track
the damage across Virginia Beach
from that tornado last night.
So take a look at this video set
in by Jen Topple and you can sea
stunning view of the funnel clod
outside their window and that ld
to destruction much like this.
Sent in by Pam Smith and Lynn H.
Entire trees ripped.
From the earth and on to homes and cars.
Some of those trees completely
shredded by the winds.
Let's turn back now to Dan Kenny
live in Great Neck this morning,
Dan, We can see certainly the
flashing lights behind you.
What's the situation like
out for you right now?
Yeah, I can tell you just about
every entrance you could imagine
between the location where I std
here in front of Cox High School
the way down to around shore Dr.
is blocked off with police.
You see, this is Virginia State Police
and Virginia Beach Police Depart
working to secure these entranc.
They want to make sure
nobody's getting through here,
where there was gas leaks last night,
where there are a number of
downed trees and tons of damage,
tons of damage to homes.
We are hearing between 50 and 1.
Homes damaged by the storm last night and
check out this video of the storm forming.
This is from Ernie Sawyer and Ma
Shores and you can see the rotation and
the clouds that caused all the damage.
The city opened an impact center
at the Great Neck Rec Center on
Shorehaven Drive that is exclusy
for people impacted by the stor.
We've learned that Mayor Bobby
Dyer and Councilman Chris Taylor
will be out here later today to
look at that damage for themsel.
The Councilman says there are community
efforts in the works to help people who
have lost their homes or belong.
In the meantime,
if you see any damage that needs
to be addressed or if you have
questions for the city,
you can call the 311 line to report things.
It also appears as if some more
first responders are arriving.
Right now,
they're staging area is set
up at Cox High School.
Because as I bring in Casey Baylor right now,
we are talking about a number of
our neighbors impacted by this.
Several
neighbors here, Broadway Point,
Greens Haversham close,
Upper Chelsea reach a lot of residents
impacted by that overnight stor.
And some residents even tell 13
News Now they watched it form lt
night and also followed the path
of the direction of that storm.
I should say now Philip
McGowan was one of them.
He says this weather caught
him off guard last night.
He said it lasted for just a few
minutes with winds hurling and.
The rain.
But when he walked outside,
he says he saw dozens of homes
either damaged or destroyed
in trees. Down wasn't too, too .
But when you just start seeing
mattresses in the middle of yards and
you start seeing cars flipped o,
and I mean, this is stuff in
the roots of house houses,
just completely ripped off.
And McGowan says his home
is slightly damaged.
But despite the the the destruc,
I should say we've been talking about
this all morning. No one is hur.
He took some incredible photos d
we are so appreciative of that.
Casey, thank you providing somef
those first hand reports last n,
many eyewitnesses we had heard m
and we will have more coverage
coming up after the short break.