tossed cars and injured more than 200 people as they carved
Monday through central and southeastern Virginia.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency for the areas
of southeastern Virginia struck by the twisters.
The National Weather Service confirmed that tornadoes struck
Suffolk, Colonial Heights and Brunswick County. Meteorologist
Bryan Jackson described Suffolk's as a "major tornado."
Bob Spieldenner from the Virginia Department of Emergency
Management said at least 200 were injured in Suffolk and 18 others
were injured in Colonial Heights.
"Multiple buildings have been destroyed, homes have been destroyed,"
Suffolk city spokeswoman Dana Woodson said.
Woodson said the area around Sentara Obici Hospital and in the community
of Driver were hardest hit. The hospital was damaged but still able to
treat patients.
In Driver, downed trees and power lines covered the streets. A
vending machine was tilted on its side, leaning up against a pile of
rubble that had been the general store in a small shopping district.
"It's just a bunch of broken power poles, telephone lines and sad faces,"
said Richard Allbright, who works for a tree removal service in Driver
and had been out for hours trying to clear the roads.
Sentara hospital spokesman Dale Gauding said about 60 injured
people were being treated there, and he expected most to be released.
"We have lots of cuts and bruises" and arm and leg injuries, he said.
The hospital's windows were cracked, apparently by debris from
a damaged shopping center across the street.
In Colonial Heights, south of Richmond, the storm overturned cars
and damaged buildings in the Southpark Mall area.
Southside Regional Medical Center treated one storm victim with minor
injuries and was poised to receive more, hospital spokeswoman Terry
Tysinger said.
Property damage also was reported in Brunswick County, one of several
localities where the weather service had issued a tornado warning.
Sgt. Michelle Cotten of the Virginia State Police said a twister destroyed
two homes. Trees and power lines were down, and some flooding was
reported.
About 9,000 Dominion Virginia Power customers remained without service
Monday.
