News Headlines

Initial Storm Damage Report Issued for Rockingham County

Posted: 8:41 PM Jul 11, 2012
Reporter: Karen Campbell

Storm Cleanup Estimates
Shenandoah National Park Damage Impact

Homeowners in the Valley are still cleaning up after a violent storm swept through the area.

It was a storm for the record books.

Powerful winds knocked down trees and damaged more than 200 structures in Rockingham County alone.

One homeowner, just outside of Harrisonburg, says he was lucky.

A rotted tree fell in his front yard fell just inches away from his home, only causing damage to his gutter.

"We had a lot of agriculture facilities damaged. A lot of homes, roofs blown off. A couple of churches had roofs blown off. A few mobile homes were also totally destroyed through trees falling through or wind damage itself," said Jeremy Holloway with the Rockingham County Fire Department.

Holloway presented an initial assessment of damage to the Board of Supervisors.

Nearly 120 homes, including more than 70 agricultural structures were all damaged in some way.

Holloway says more number are expected.

Virginia Department of Transportation workers have been busy since the storm began.

"We have been working around the clock," said Don Komara, a spokesperson for VDOT.

Komara says crews are working 12 hour days to clear trees and debris. VDOT even welcomed crews from Chicago and Tennessee to help with the cleanup.

Another family, near Rawley Springs, was also cleaning debris from their front yard.

A tree had fallen close to power lines.

"Now, we're in the process of checking on the trees that are hanging over the roadway. Some people call them widow-makers because they are hanging from another tree and leaning on a tree," said Komara.

Crews also have to watch out for trees hanging on power lines.

"It is very challenging. It can be scary," said Komara.

That's something crews don't want to have to face again.

Holloway says there are some lessons to be learned from this storm.

".... how can we make things better for the next time," said Holloway.