Tax break doesn't produce rush to buy disaster items 05/26/08 12:09 AM
Shoppers were out early yesterday at some local stores on the first day of Virginia's sales-tax holiday for hurricane supplies.

At start of hurricane season, a tax break 05/25/08 12:09 AM
For next week, Virginia residents can avoid state sales tax on several items.

It's time to get ready for hurricane season 05/25/08 12:09 AM
VIRGINIA BEACH -- Along the beaches of Virginia and the North Carolina Outer Banks, the past few hurricane seasons have brought mostly sunshine and gentle breezes. But inland, the story has been different.

Tornado blasts into homes 05/10/08 12:09 AM
STAFFORD -- David Skaja looked outside just in time to see a tornado twist through a nearby yard and devour the entire second floor of a house across the street.

Tornadoes in Virginia  05/10/08 12:09 AM
So far this year, the National Weather Service has confirmed 12 tornadoes in Virginia. Here are the years in which the most tornadoes were recorded in the state.

Firms rebound after storms 05/10/08 12:08 AM
Some businesses damaged by a tornado in Colonial Heights last week are back up and running, but a handful are weeks from reopening, authorities said.

Storms challenge weather sleuths 05/05/08 12:09 AM
The debris had barely settled from last week's storms when meteorologists fanned out across Virginia for an exercise in detective work. Exactly how many tornadoes had touched down?

8 tornadoes hit Va.; damage at $24 million 05/01/08 12:15 AM
At least eight tornadoes -- up one from the previous count -- hit Virginia on Monday. Damage estimates reached $24.7 million yesterday and are likely to climb.

Some Suffolk residents go home to ruins 05/01/08 12:08 AM
Those whose homes had not been condemned were allowed to move back in, albeit with an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew to discourage looting.

Tornado tossed woman's car, with her in it 05/01/08 12:08 AM
Precious Dugger had just shifted her car into park Monday afternoon and was reaching for something from her pocketbook when the back window blew out. "I looked up and could see the way the wind was circling," the 22-year-old said.

Va. offers tax extension 05/01/08 12:08 AM
The Virginia Department of Taxation says it is granting an extension for those affected by Monday's tornadoes.

Relief after big twisters 04/30/08 12:25 AM
SUFFOLK -- People in Suffolk picked through twisted debris yesterday and called themselves lucky that no deaths or serious injuries resulted from one of the most destructive tornadoes in recent Virginia history.

Be ready for next disaster 04/30/08 12:20 AM
The tornadoes that ripped though Suffolk and Colonial Heights should be a wake-up call for Virginia consumers. Get ready for the next disaster.

The damage 04/30/08 12:10 AM
Preliminary property-loss reports for some affected localities.

Colonial Heights: Tornado warning came just after touch down 04/30/08 12:09 AM
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Colonial Heights about two minutes after a twister touched down there Monday, the service says.

Some stores may close one month for repairs 04/30/08 12:09 AM
Harold Deane Jr. arrived at America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in Colonial Heights yesterday to order a new pair of contacts. But yellow caution tape surrounded the store in the Dimmock Square shopping center on Southpark Boulevard.

Suffolk facts  04/30/08 12:09 AM
Suffolk facts Population: 81,200 Square miles: More than 400 Unusual fact: The smaller city of Suffolk merged with larger, rural Nansemond County in the mid-1970s. Major river: Nansemond SOURCES: City of Suffolk, U.S. Census Bureau

Officials: 7-tornado day a rarity in Va. 04/30/08 12:09 AM
Collisions of cold and warm air produced seven tornadoes Monday, including Virginia's strongest in nearly 15 years. Tornadoes in April are typical. What happened Monday was not.

Lessons from '93 twister helped city 04/30/08 12:09 AM
When the tornado approached Colonial Heights on Monday afternoon, Gary Hoffman, owner of Rainbow Christian Book & Gift, began doing the same things he did in August 1993.

How to help  04/30/08 12:09 AM
Looking for ways to help the victims of Monday's tornadoes? Write a check to local charities or faith-based organizations responding to the disaster, officials say.