Hampton tornado damage estimated at $4.3 million

WVEC.com

Posted on June 1, 2012 at 4:28 PM

Updated yesterday at 10:05 AM

HAMPTON (AP) -- Hampton officials say a tornado that swept through the city caused more than $4.3 million in damages.

No serious injuries were reported on Saturday a day after the tornado struck.

Hampton emergency officials say the areas hardest hit by the storm include the downtown area and the neighborhoods of Merrimac Shores and Park Place.

Strong winds knocked down trees and power lines, blew out windows and scattered debris. More than 200 single-family homes were damaged in the storm, which had winds reaching 98 miles per hour.

Police are urging people to stay away from affected areas unless they live there.?

The twister moved across the James River and hit the area where the annual Blackbeard Pirate Festival is being held.

The National Weather Service confirmed that the storm was an EF-1 tornado. It was first spotted in Portsmouth and traveled across the James River, hitting between Wythe area and downtown. It then skipped over Mercury Blvd with wind speeds around 85 mph in the area of Boxwood St.

The storm damaged buildings downtown and scattered tents and vendor stalls at the Blackbeard Pirate Festival.

Friday night there were over 9000 without power in Hampton Roads, Gloucester and the Northern Neck.

Amory's Seafood Market, a family-run business for 95 years in Hampton, sustained major damage. The first floor of the Hampton Yacht Club was also severely damaged.

Earlier Friday, a tornado struck Elizabeth City, N.C., causing tree damage.

Rich Olson, city manager of Elizabeth City, told 13News around 5:30 that there had been a report of a tornado siting at Rt 17 near Hughes Blvd and Halstead Road.

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The Hampton Roads Severe Weather App, powered by 13News, has the real-time weather data to track tropical storms and local emergency information.? To download for your iPhone, Android or BlackBerry smartphone, click here:?

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