07-03-2025
Mathews County: Hotspot for storm damage
MATHEWS COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Tree branches, pieces of metal and the remains of a once-standing boat house lay scattered across after a powerful thunderstorm brought winds of upwards of 60 mph.
There were no tornado warnings issued, but residents say it felt like one had passed through.
'For five seconds, that's all it was — this huge rumble, … so I got up, looked there and saw the roof in my yard,' said neighbor Ellen Ferrell. 'And I turned around. … The marina was completely flattened.'
Even the marina's owner, Ricky Callis, was shocked by the destruction. The boat house, which had stood through Hurricane Isabel in 2003, couldn't withstand the force of last night's storm.
'Honestly, this has been in my family for probably 15, 16 years,' Callis said. 'We purchased it from the previous owner. I worked here when I was a kid, like a summer job.'
Cleanup efforts are already underway, with the goal of rebuilding and restoring the marina.
'Most of the debris landed on land, which is kind of nice,' Callis said. 'It's a lot easier to pick up from land than out of the creek.'
Despite the damage, residents say they are grateful no homes were destroyed and no one was injured.
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