Just lived through a tornado. Children are missing. People are dead. Trees are down. Campers are flipped pic.twitter.com/UWxzE6hBqC
— Jordan Bertok (@bertokjordan) July 24, 2014
At least three people are dead after a tornado swept through Virginia’s Eastern Shore on Thursday, toppling trees, flipping over cars and injuring children at a local camping ground.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Hospitals in the Area Are Ready for ‘Mass Casualties’
My grandparents sat in their car to stay safe…And this is what happened… They're in the hospital, but doing well. pic.twitter.com/PgR6vX6FSL
— Jordan Bertok (@bertokjordan) July 24, 2014
ABC 13 reporter Nick Ochsner tweeted that three hospitals in the area are “preparing for mass casualty.”
Amandas Blankenship of the Eastville Volunteer Fire Co. told the media: “Several children have been injured at the campground. I don’t know how many, but they have called for several ambulances to go there.”
2. The Tornado Ripped Through a Campground Full of Kids, Causing ‘Devastation’
(Twitter/@bertokjordan)
An unknown number of children were injured when the storm ripped through the Cherrystone Campground. WAVY News spoke to a woman who was camping at the site and told the station: “It’s just devastation at the campground.”
According to the campground’s website, Cherrystone is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. Earlier in 2014, the campground was named one of the top three in the nation for RVs.
Linda Zaremski, who lives close to the campground, told USA Today, “Debris was flying down the street — our chairs, beach balls. We lost power.”
3. Massive Hail Is Falling on the Area, Hampering the Rescue Effort
(Twitter/@bertokjordan)
There are reports of golf-ball-sized hail falling in the area.
The Virginia Department of Emergency said a “possible tornado” had touched down in the area at 10 a.m. this morning. At 9 a.m., the NWS reported a waterspout over Chesapeake Bay. The Cherry Stone camping ground is just 11 miles from Chesapeake Bay.
Friend's uncle: "We did have some hail at the farm. One of our employees had his windows of his house blown out." @13NewsNow #stormmode
— PhilipTownsend13News (@13PhilTownsend) July 24, 2014
4. The Tornado’s Wrath Is Being Felt Throughout the Eastern Shore
A picture of the Cherrystone Camp Ground after the storm. (Virginia Department of Emergency Management/Facebook)
The area around Cheriton is covered with overturned vehicles and downed trees. Along U.S.Route 13 in Cheriton, a truck overturned, the driver was treated at a nearby hospital for injuries.
5. Thunderstorms Will Continue in the Area Until Tonight
(ABC Virginia)
Weather forecast indicates that thunderstorms are expected to continue in the area until tonight. CBS 6 says that the weather will produce “constant lightening and torrential downpours.”
Possible Tornado hits Eastern Shore of VA, damage pics from local TV http://t.co/Z7cGwjPwtG pic.twitter.com/R2sk6VYcUB
— WeatherBug (@WeatherBug) July 24, 2014