SUFFOLK, Va. – The National Weather Service confirmed Sunday that a tornado touched down in Suffolk Saturday night as storms rolled through the area.
The Suffolk Department of Community Development advises that following last evening’s EF-1 tornado residential damage assessments include 18 affected structures, eight structures with minor damage, seven structures with major damage, and 1 structure (shed) destroyed for a total of 34.
Emergency Communications was first contacted at 6:53 p.m. when a citizen called to report a tree down in front of a business in the 500 block of Constance Road.
A total of 10 houses on MacArthur Drive reported damages, with four residences sustaining major damage. Myrtle Road had two residences report major damage. A tree fell across a detached garage on Proctor Street, and a residence on Elm Street sustained minor damage.
Damages to six businesses include blown windows and issues with HVAC units on roofs, officials say.
According to officials, trees and power lines went down in the area of River Point Drive and South Main Street. Trees were also down on Nansemond Parkway and in the areas of the intersection of Oak Street and Collie Avenue and the intersection of Myrick Avenue and Ben Street.
Additional homes in the Hollywood neighborhood also sustained minor to moderate damage from downed trees.
No injuries have been reported at this time.
Only MacArthur Drive remains closed to through traffic at Wilroy Road due to low-hanging utility lines and debris removal.
Officials were contacted at 7:03 p.m., regarding a residential structure fire in the 1800 block of Nansemond Parkway. The first units arrived on scene at 7:12 p.m.
Once officials arrived they found heavy fire in the attic area of the brick ranch. The residents had evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters. Crews were able to rescue a dog from the residence and there were no injuries reported.
Four occupants have been displaced and will be assisted by the American Red Cross. The fire was called under control at 7:53 p.m. The Fire Marshal’s Office will be handling the investigation as to the cause of the fire.
This information is preliminary in nature and further information will be provided when crews are able to further assess damages in the area in the morning.
If anyone has experienced any damages related to this weather system, please contact Non-Emergency Dispatch at (757)-923-2350.
