Damage still persists two years after devastating Virginia Beach tornado

Yahoo

01-05-2025

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Wednesday marks the two-year anniversary of one of the most destructive days in Virginia Beach.
GALLERY: Virginia Beach tornado damage | April 30
Two years ago, an EF-3 tornado struck the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach, with winds up to 145 mph. The National Weather Service reported the tornado's width was over three football fields wide, going from the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River to Fort Story.
According to the city of Virginia Beach, cars were overturned, boats were sunk and 115 homes were damaged, costing well over $16 million in damage.
VB tornado damages estimated at nearly $16 million
Some of the hardest hit areas were the Broad Bay Point Greens and the Chelsea neighborhoods, including Haversham Close, where 10 On Your Side found the Cortellini family, who had to rebuild their home after the tornado.
Virginia Beach city manager declares local state of emergency following tornado
'It was devastating, and truly, just looking back at the devastation that it was is still mind blowing,' Charlie Cortellini said, 'and I'll say the same thing, we're lucky that nobody was hurt. Our pets are fine,'
Charlie's wife, Toni, was sitting next to him in their newly-built home with all new furniture. She was moved as she watched the report and the massive loss they suffered as a result of the tornado.
Family finds keepsakes in storm rubble as they look to rebuild their home
'I have tears still, yes,' Toni Cortellini said. 'I don't like looking at it. It's too hard. I miss my house. I do. I think I'm glad we were able to do what we could do here with insurance and everything like that. We were really blessed in that way, but I miss my home.'
WAVY met Charlie and Toni Cortellini in May shortly after the April 30 tornado. They are a friendly couple that has always welcomed us into their destroyed home, their new home and now, their newly-furnished home.
When we arrived, the dogs were barking loudly and, for a long period of time. The dogs, Riley and Milo, were in the home when the tornado hit and were rescued from the rubble. Charlie and Toni Cortellini were not home at the time of the impact.
'The dogs are stressed, and they are barking more since the tornado,' Charlie Cortellini said. 'When big winds come and make noise Riley especially gets very agitated. They both were impacted by the storm.'
Two years ago, WAVY 10's team had to climb into the Cortellini home, as the house had been moved off the foundation due to the tornado.
10 On Your Side watched the past reports we produced and showed the couple the report from the one-year anniversary last year, asking if the disaster allowed them to create a better home.
After VB tornado a year ago, it's not better, 'it's different'
'It's different,' Toni Cortellini said. 'I really loved my home. I had lots of memories and stuff.'
It's clear the emotional scars of losing a home are hard to heal.
Two years ago, WAVY flew Drone 10 over the area of destruction, showing houses, including the Cortellini home, that looked like houses simply exploded.
What was the most shocking damage?
'The master bedroom to me was the most devastating because there was no wall left in the master bedroom,' Charlie Cortellini said.
Two years ago, he was looking at a ceiling that is now no longer there.
'Yes. I always wanted a skylight,' Charlie Cortellini said. 'I think we were a little bit overboard and a lot of aeration.'
Charlie calls the power of the twister mind-blowing and overwhelming.
'And this is the corner of the foundation,' Charlie Cortellini said. 'You know, before the storm, the house was sitting in this corner. It's now pushed back at least 10-feet.'
Both admit they still don't know what they've lost in the tornado until they start looking for something they need.
'When I need something, and I would say 'Oh, I don't have that anymore.' Like it takes a while to absorb all that,' Toni Cortellini said.
Charlie Cortellini summed up his thoughts from that day.
'The defining message to me is that as long as you survive, there's always tomorrow,' he said, 'and that, to me, is we can always rebuild.'
Toni and Charlie Cortellini, who are coming up on 49 years of marriage, will tell you they've been to hell and back. We asked Toni Cortellini a year ago on a scale from 0-10 how bad was this experience.
'Well, 0 the worst? Then negative 10,' she said. 'I wouldn't wish this on anyone.'
This year, we asked her where she is now.
'I think I'm about an 8,' she said. 'I'm not all the way back.'
The best memories in the new house began this past Thanksgiving, with their son and daughter, spouses and four grandchildren all celebrating a new chapter in their lives.
'We have started making new memories,' she said. 'My son came down for Thanksgiving, and for us to be all together for our first holiday meal was great.'
The even better news is that everyone loves to come to the new house.
'When I see the neighbors over here, the walls are gone, and I thank God nobody was home,' Charlie Cortellini said.
The master bedroom upstairs, which had the walls blown out, is now downstairs.
'Toni and I are dedicated to living on the first floor,' he said. 'In the new home, the master bedroom is now downstairs where the family room was. You can see the neighbors next door.'
It's hard to believe the new master bedroom is actually smaller with this massive walk-in closet.
Two years later, you can still see homes under construction from the tornado — proof that two years later, there's still work to do.
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