Violent Storm Rips Through Grottoes Neighborhood
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Updated: 2:56 PM Jun 4, 2009
Violent Storm Rips Through Grottoes Neighborhood
Grottoes, Va.
While storms passing through the Valley Wednesday did little damage in some areas, it was a completely different story in one Grottoes neighborhood.
Posted: 8:55 AM Jun 4, 2009
Reporter: Philip Townsend
Email Address: ptownsend@whsv.com
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While storms passing through the Valley Wednesday did little damage in some areas, it was a completely different story in one Grottoes neighborhood.

What started out as a pleasant Wednesday evening for Lucille Weber quickly turned into a nightmare.

She says, "I was thinking, when it came by the house, that it was the strongest thing I'd ever seen."

In just two minutes, her backyard off Randall Road in Grottoes was completely devastated.

Weber adds, "When I looked back I realized the trees were uprooted and broken off."

Weber's relative, Penny Purcel, says, "It was very scary, but it happened so quickly we didn't have time to be scared. It was just so quick."

Purcel was visiting Weber and other family members when the storm hit.

She says, "We started to pray. Oh yes we did."

Three large pine trees were ripped straight out of the ground and other debris fills houses along the neighborhood.

However, some areas of Weber's backyard were untouched and she has an idea of how that happened.

Weber says, "You know extra strong wind, like tornado-type wind that came through this little area."

It didn't just stop at heavy winds.

Purcel says, "It was loud. It went like a white out with hail and zero visibility."

Weber says she's left with a heavy mess to clean up, but at the same time, she says it could have been much worse.

Weber adds, "It hurts. But I am very thankful no one was hurt, that God took care of us."

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