Virgilina begins to pick up the pieces after tornado

By Bernard Baker

Published: April 30, 2008

Neighbors in Virgilina are helping each other rebuild after a tornado tore through the small Halifax County town on Monday afternoon, damaging homes and uprooting trees.

The National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday that a tornado with winds up to 109 mph hit near Virgilina at about 1:10 p.m. Monday.

The storm was on the ground for about five minutes and was measured at about 240 yards wide, meteorologist Robert Stonefield said Tuesday.

“It was a large storm,” he said.

Reports indicate that six homes were damaged and numerous trees were uprooted or knocked down. No injuries were reported.

Halifax County Supervisor Lottie Nunn said she visited Virgilina on Tuesday and saw a lot of people

helping each other out.

“I think everything is going along well,” Nunn said. “We’re just so thankful nobody got hurt.”

The local fire department was feeding people hamburgers, she said, adding officials with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management continued to inspect for damage.

Wayne Hopkins said he was working on an antique car in his shop, Hopkins Roofing and Guttering, Monday afternoon when the wind picked up and he heard a clap of thunder.

Hopkins said he wasn’t worried about the storm until someone came to the shop and told him about the damage.

“Oh, my gosh. It’s amazing what the wind can do,” Hopkins said.

He’s replacing some of the damaged roofs and helping with clean up. Hopkins said the tornado demolished one outbuilding and left one standing that was three feet away.

“It was amazing,” he said.

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