THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 6, 1995 TAG: 9505060291
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
City officials have estimated damage to be in excess of $600,000 from Sunday's destructive thunderstorm that battered portions of Portsmouth with high winds.
John O'Neal, deputy coordinator for emergency services for the Portsmouth Fire Department, said that damage costs eventually could be even higher and that the brief but intense storm was one of the worst to ever strike the city.
``Nothing in recent history has caused this much widespread damage,'' O'Neal said.
O'Neal said that 183 residences, 41 cars and one business were damaged during the storm.
Another $14,100 worth of city equipment was damaged during the storm and cleanup, and 55 city-owned trees valued at $29,000 were destroyed.
The total damage came to $672,150, O'Neal said.
Hardest hit was the Westminister Village Apartments on Turnpike Road. Two of the complex's 96 apartment units were destroyed, O'Neal said.
The complex was evacuated a half-hour after the storm by emergency workers, O'Neal said. Many stayed with friends or relatives, but about 60 families were housed in local motels for three nights.
Power has been restored to all portions of the city and all residents have returned to their homes, O'Neal said, except for the two families who lived in the destroyed apartments at Westminister. They were moved to vacant units.
The damage occurred about 6 p.m. Sunday when a line of thunderstorms moved through Hampton Roads. The National Weather Service ruled that no tornado occurred.
Instead, the damage was probably caused by straight-line winds that occurred during microbursts or downbursts, said Bill Sammler of the National Weather Service.
Trees came down and power went out during the storm in portions of Chesapeake also. But most of the storm-related problems occurred in Portsmouth, confined mostly to three areas - Westminister, Prentis Park and Oregon Acres.
Downed trees did most of the damage. ILLUSTRATION: Chart by Steve Stone, Staff
PORTSMOUTH: AFTER THE STORM
City officials have assessed damage from last weekend's severe
thunderstorms.
Single family homes
Nine with major damage $65,000
123 with minor damage $142,300
Apartments
Two destroyed $65,000
14 with major damage $135,000
35 with minor damage $40,250
Vehicles
Eight destroyed; 10 with major damage;
23 with minor damage $171,500
Businesses
One with damage $10,000
Public property
City-owned equipment $14,100
City-owned trees $29,000
Total estimated damage $627,150
KEYWORDS: WEATHER STORM by CNB