UPDATE POSTED THURSDAY, APRIL 19: Westover Drive is now open to through traffic. In addition, Public Work crews this morning removed the barricades on Church Avenue at Riverside Drive.
Public Works Crews will continue today and Friday to collect storm debris in the Westover Hills area. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution as sporadic lane closures may be put in place to allow for collection of debris.
The damage estimate for residential structures has been revised to $2,266,639. The change reflects the reclassification of one additional house as receiving minor damage from the storm.
In addition, the damage estimate for public works has been revised to $100,000.
The current totals are as follows:
- Residential damage estimate — $2,266,639
- Commercial damage estimate —$114,108
- Utilities damage estimate — $500,000
- Public Works damage estimate —$100,000
- Total damage estimate — $2,980,747
- One house was destroyed, 15 suffered major damage and 38 suffered minor damage.
- Three commercial structures had minor damage.
ORIGINAL STORY POSTED WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18:
The National Weather Service has confirmed that a category EF1 tornado touched down in Danville and southern Pittsylvania County on Sunday. The EF (Enhanced Fujita) scale classifies a category EF1 as a weak tornado with winds from 86 to 110 mph.
The tornado caused more than $3 million in damage, according to preliminary estimates from the City of Danville.
The National Weather Service said the tornado first touched down at 5:54 p.m. Sunday southwest of Old Mayfield Road and then moved northeast, doing EF1 damage as it passed through the Westover Hills area. The tornado produced a continuous path of damage before lifting at 6:10 p.m. northeast of Pleasant Gap Drive, two miles to the southwest of the Dry Fork community.
The length of the tornado’s path totaled 12 miles.
The National Weather Service reports numerous trees were destroyed or damaged. Minor structural damage, mainly roof damage, occurred to houses. Several outbuildings were destroyed. The worst of the damage in this 12-mile path was sustained to a farm north of the city on R and L Smith Road.
The confirmation of the tornado, its path and the damage it caused was made following a survey of Danville and the surrounding area on Tuesday by the National Weather Service.
The preliminary damage estimates include an assessment conducted by the building and inspections division of the Community Development Department. Preliminary numbers show $2,256,844 in residential damage and $114,108 in commercial damage.
In addition, Danville Utilities is estimating $500,000 in utilities damage and the Public Works Department is estimating $250,000 in damage.
The total damage estimate is $3,120,952.
One house was destroyed, 15 suffered major damage and 37 suffered minor damage. Three commercial structures had minor damage.
Westover Drive remains closed today to through traffic while cable and other utilities crews continue restoration work. All lanes are closed between Woodlawn Court and Hayes Court. Motorists are urged to continue to use alternate routes. Local traffic should take caution.
Additional Public Works crews again are being dedicated today to collect storm debris in the Westover Hills area. Wednesday is the normal trash and yard waste collection day for the Westover area.
Danville residents are reminded that Public Works is waiving restrictions citywide for collection of tree limbs, brush and other storm debris for the next two weeks. The restrictions waived include the volume and weight of debris and the size of the debris pile. Citizens are asked to place the debris at the edge of their property line, but do not block sidewalks or allow the debris to extend into the roadway.
Danville Utilities crews today are replacing the remaining broken poles left in the aftermath of the tornado. These broken poles are affecting 20 customers. Danville Utilities crews and contract and mutual aid crews have been working 16-hour shifts since the storm to restore power to all customers. The storm left more than 5,000 customers without power.