Estimated $15.3M in Residential Damages and Public Damage Assessment $713K at this Time from Virginia Beach Tornado

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-3 level tornado touched down in the northern part of the city on April 30. The path was approximately 4.5 miles long, from the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River to Fort Story, with peak winds of 145 mph. More than $15 million is estimated in residential damage: nine homes destroyed; 36 with major damage making them uninhabitable; and many more with significant damage. The public damage assessment estimate amounts to $731,000 to date. These estimates do not include JEB Little Creek/Fort Story damage.

The City has a number of resources and information available for residents impacted by the tornado and the general public at emergency.vbgov.com.

Report Property Damage

Report any property damage to the Real Estate Assessor's Office. REA teams are in the affected area assessing property damage. Visit virginiabeach.gov/realestate for more information.

Road Closures

Great Neck Road will open two southbound lanes and one northbound lane from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. tonight. Neighborhood roads will remain closed due to storm debris clean-up operations.

Debris & Waste Management

All Bulky Item Collection has been suspended for the week of May 1, 2023, as Waste Management crews continue to assist with cleanup operations. This could be extended depending on the extent of storm clean up.

Normal trash and recycling schedules are being observed. Roads that are impassable or where heavy excavation work is being performed will be serviced as soon as our vehicles can gain access to the area. Yard waste collection continues to run on a delay. Please place bagged yard waste and woody debris in your trash cart for service on your normal collection day.

The City Landfill & Resource Recovery Center will be open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents can drop off storm debris at no cost. Rules and restrictions regarding questions like what can be dropped off and the size of vehicles allowed can be found on the City Landfill page.

Dedicated Impact & Resource Center

The Impact & Resource Center at Great Neck Recreation Center, 2521 Shorehaven Drive, will close today at 5 p.m. The recreation center will reopen for normal operations to the public tomorrow, May 2, at 6 a.m. and will continue to serve residents impacted by the storm. Representatives from the City's Department of Human Services will be onsite in a dedicated room starting at 8 a.m. for any public that needs assistance.

Hot showers are available, power to charge phones and mobile devices and grief counselors for those who wish to speak to one. Coffee and sandwiches are available through today. Residents are encouraged to bring comfort items.

If those impacted are in need of any additional help and support, contact 311.

Volunteer Information

Law enforcement agencies are trying to keep the impacted Great Neck area limited to residents with verifiable credentials and clean-up crews. The City asks that volunteers do not self-deploy until they are contacted and given instructions. Until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support, volunteers should not enter without being asked to do so.

VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads will coordinate the necessary volunteers when and if the City requests their assistance. Please be sure that you have filled out a complete profile on VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads website so that they can properly contact you should you be needed. Register at the Virginia Beach Tornado Volunteer Response.

Donations

City officials are appreciative of the generous offers of assistance from residents and businesses for their neighbors in a time of crisis. We are currently organizing and establishing channels where those who wish to donate can do so. However, we are asking that the community please not arrive with unsolicited donations. More information about how to donate/support impacted residents will be coming soon.

This morning's recorded press conference with City leaders and staff is available at Access Virginia Beach on YouTube.

Stay Informed

• For the most up-to-date information, monitor the City's emergency site, emergency.vbgov.com.
• Citizen Services: 311 is available 24 hours a day for questions and reporting non-emergency conditions. Please only call or text 911 in a life-threatening emergency.
• Text GNROAD to 67283 for updates on Great Neck Road operating status
• Learn more about steps you can take now to prepare for an emergency. Look for emergency preparedness information at ready.gov/severe-weather
• Follow the City on social media:
  • Facebook – www.facebook.com/CityofVaBeach
  • Twitter – www.twitter.com/CityofVaBeach
  • Instagram – www.instagram.com/cityofvabeach

• Power Outages: Contact Dominion Energy to report power outages at 1-866-366-4357 or online at dominionenergy.com/virginia/report-outage-or-emergency. Treat all downed power lines as live.