Lynchburg Area Assesses Tornado Damage
Since the tornado of April 15 roughly two weeks ago, Lynchburg, Virginia, and the surrounding region have been assessing the aftermath and evaluating the damage.
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado touched down at approximately 7 p.m. in northwest Campbell County, east of Timberlake Road, at an EF1 level — including winds between 86 and 110 mph — and had an initial path width of 100 yards.
The Campbell County Department of Public Safety released a current report of the aftermath on Monday, April 23. At the time of the report, 16 businesses and two duplex buildings had reported incurring severe structural damage, with some considered to be total losses.
The estimated damage is currently appraised at almost $17.3 million — $847,769 residential and $16,441,000 commercial.
Officials concluded that there were 12 injuries and no reported fatalities due to the weather event, according to the report.
In Amherst County, the tornado grew to a maximum intensity with winds at roughly 150 mph as it crossed Highway 130 in the Elon area. Dozens of homes in the area were substantially damaged, some almost entirely, and many large pine trees were left with the majority of their branches ripped off.
The areas along Nottaway Drive and Deerfield Drive were reportedly the most severely affected places, as the path of damage was 400 yards wide and the powered by the strong winds of an EF3 tornado.
In a public information statement, the National Weather Service thanked everyone who responded to help in the cumbersome task of accumulating observations and information in the aftermath.
“The National Weather Service would like to express sincere gratitude to the emergency officials from Campbell and Amherst Counties, as well as the city of Lynchburg, Amherst County Schools, the News & Advance and private citizens who all helped piece together the various observations used to determine this information,” the NWS release said.
According to an article on Campbell County Department of Public Safety’s website, FEMA has received a request from Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management for the start of joint Preliminary Damage Assessments to evaluate the damage in the region. PDAs are a process of compiling information that are meant to help the governor decide if the damage is beyond what the Commonwealth is capable of managing and if additional assistance is necessary.
Many of the locations affected by the storms have experienced notable amounts of volunteer aid. Public Safety Director Tracy Fairchild has expressed her gratitude for those who acted as first responders and volunteers who turned out from the community and remained at work both during the storm and in the aftermath’s recovery process.
“I honestly cannot thank the community enough for their support while we continue recovery efforts,” Fairchild said. “I am extremely fortunate to work with such dedicated and committed volunteers and staff. These first responders truly care about the citizens in Campbell County, but beyond that, the community cares deeply about each other.”
Gleaning for the World, a nonprofit organization that works to meet the critical needs of those suffering from natural disasters and extreme poverty, distributed various supplies to the storm victims at Timberlake Methodist Church on Monday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 25.
Two weeks have passed since the tornado tore through the Lynchburg region, but the process of recovery is still underway as assessments and the information-gathering process are ongoing.