Storm damage light in region

By Bernard Baker

Published: July 23, 2008

Severe storms in the area Tuesday night sparked fires, blocked roads and caused scattered power outages.

A hay barn near Gretna and a house in Cascade on Huntington Trail were believed to be hit by lightning, Jim Davis, director of emergency services in Pittsylvania County, said Wednesday. Damage to the structures was not significant, he said.

About 20 roads throughout the county were blocked by downed power lines and trees from 7:30 to 11 p.m., Davis said. No serious injuries were reported.

“It (the storm damage) wasn’t in any one area,” he said.

Damage was reported in Ringgold, Chatham, Blairs and the Brosville area.

Doug Young, director of Danville Emergency Services, reported no serious problems in the city.

“The storms were pretty aggressive,” he said.

Rainfall was spotty.

Jeff Haniewich, Storm Team 10 meteorologist at WSLS in Roanoke, said roughly about a half an inch of rain fell near Danville.

Higher amounts of rain were recorded in southern Henry County, he said, but places in the Mount Cross Road area didn’t get much rain at all.

Young said city dispatchers were kept busy with calls from people needing emergency medical help, but the assistance was not related to the storm.

Kevin Martin, key accounts manager with Danville Utilities, said local power outages were scattered, and lasted mostly for short durations, such as one hour to 90 minutes.

“We did have one outage that lasted for five hours that affected 25 customers,” he said. “Again, all was due to lightning.”

• Contact Bernard Baker at or (434) 791-7986.