THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 11, 1996 TAG: 9606110346
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
LENGTH: 52 lines
Strong winds knocked down trees and power lines in rural areas of southern Virginia where tornadoes formed Monday, and the stalled storm system caused more flooding in the region.
The thunderstorm system that produced the apparent tornadoes in Pittsylvania and Henry counties weakened as it moved through Campbell County, according to the National Weather Service.
In Axton, trees and some power lines were downed, but no serious property damage or personal injuries were reported by Henry County emergency service officials. About 45 customers were left without power in the area, Appalachian Electric Power said.
A tornado touched down Sunday in Burnt Chimney, a Franklin County community near Rocky Mount, the weather service said. The twister knocked down trees and power lines and destroyed a newly constructed house, leaving a 3-mile path of damage.
In Pittsylvania County, a tornado was spotted on the National Weather Service radar system about 9 a.m., three miles southwest of Chatham.
``There are strong winds and heavy rain, but the tornado has not touched down,'' said James Davis, coordinator of emergency services in Pittsylvania County.
A tornado warning was announced in Campbell County, but the funnel cloud stayed aloft there as well. ``It just kind of blew through and didn't do much of anything except get people all up in arms and looking at the sky,'' said Bob Gill, the county's emergency dispatch coordinator.
With the ground saturated from the weekend rains, the weather service said another round of thunderstorms could cause flash flooding. There were flash flood watches issued on Monday in the Shenandoah Valley and in the New River Valley.
Bennie Summerlin, director of public safety in Henry County, said about a dozen or so roads were closed because of flooding, and that at least a dozen homes were reported with water inside. A shelter was set up for families displaced by the storms, but so far only one family had to be put up. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photos
A tornado shot by Andrea DiRocco of WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, makes its
way through northern Pittsylvania County in Mount Airy near Gretna
on Monday morning. The weather service said another round of storms
could cause flash flooding.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A tornado ripped the roof off the home of Carolyn and Berlie Hubbard
in the Renan community near Gretna on Monday. Though twisters caused
some property damage, there were no reported injuries.
KEYWORDS: WEATHER STORMS TORNADO FLOODS by CNB