Tornadoes and flash flooding have left at least 5 people dead in Virginia and crews are continuing to assess damage the severe weekend storms caused across several areas of the state.
Virginia Department of Emergency Management spokesman Bob Spieldenner said Sunday that three people died and scores suffered injuries in Gloucester County, where a tornado cut through a 12-mile swath, uprooting trees and destroying homes. Neighboring areas such as James City, Isle of Wight and Middlesex counties also experienced heavy damage. The National Weather Service also reported at least one tornado touched down Saturday in Dinwiddie County.
Spieldenner says farther west, flash flooding killed two people in Waynesboro, and prompted other water rescues. Officials reported flooding along the northern Interstate 81 corridor, and said floodwaters damaged homes and other property.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell decaled a state of emergency on Sunday in response to Saturday's storm destruction.
He said in a statement, "Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by the storms and flooding in the Commonwealth."
