WAVY.com

Resources available after Virginia Beach tornado

Tornado damage in Virginia Beach on April 30, 2023. (Credit: WAVY- Kevin Romm)

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The City of Virginia Beach has put together a list of resources available for residents who have been impacted by the tornado that hit the Great Neck area of the city Sunday.

The city has also provided ways for others to donate or lend a helping hand to those who have been affected.


Tornado Resources

Great Neck Road text alerts 

To get real time traffic and road closure updates, text GNROAD to 67283.

Non-Profit Help

Residents impacted by the tornado can call city-partner Crisis Cleanup at 757-276-8892 and the city will match their concern with a non-profit that can help.

Residents can also call 311 for non-profit assistance.

Reporting Property Damage

The city’s real estate assessor will begin processing abatements on buildings identified as destroyed and then will review those ID’d as having major damage.

Property owners can report tornado damage to the real estate assessor’s office at virginiabeach.gov/realestate or call 757-385-4601.

Permits and Rebuilding

Permit fees have been waived to allow residents of tornado-damaged homes to make repairs. The requirement for permits, though, has not been waived.

Contact the city’s planning department at 757-385-4211. Permits will be reviewed as quickly as possible.

The following do not require permits:

Debris & Waste Management

The city’s landfill and resource recovery center is open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for residents to drop off storm debris at no cost. Rules and restrictions here.

Donations 

City is still organizing channels for residents and businesses to donate, but for now is asking people not arrive with unsolicited donations.

Private businesses wanting to donate food to city staff helping in recovery efforts should contact the Office of Volunteer Resources at 757-385-4722 or volunteer@vbgov.com.

Volunteering

People should not self-deploy until they have been contacted and given instructions. VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads is coordinating volunteers when/if the city requests them.

Impact and Resource Center 

The center is located at 2521 Shorehaven Dr. with representatives from the city’s Department of Human Services onsite to help residents.

Hampton Roads Incident Management Team

The Hampton Roads Incident Management Team (HRIMT) has been requested to assist in the tornado recovery. HRIMT will be setting up shelter and related equipment for the long-term recovery efforts. The shelters are fully enclosed with power and will be set up Thursday May 4.

Stay informed

Monitor the city’s emergency site. 311 is also available 24 hours per day for questions and reporting non-emergency conditions. Find emergency preparedness information at ready.gov/severe-weather.