Viewer photo of reported tornado from from WTKR.com.
Newly hired Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Doug Jones told the Board of Supervisors DOS personnel found damage to trees in the area behind Accawmacke Elementary School as well as the wooded area off Nedab Lane.
One vehicle received minor damage from a fallen tree and numerous trees were downed and were found to be twisted off from the ground up.
Several roads also flooded during the storm, which reportedly dumped nearly 4 inches of rain in some spots near Locustville and up to 6 inches in Gargatha.
No injuries were reported and no structural damage was found besides downed electric wires and a pole.
The DPS report said power crews had to cut their way in to restore power to area residences and access was blocked to four residences as result of the storm.
Finfish raising
The Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to initiate consideration of a zoning ordinance amendment that would add regulations pertaining to the raising of finfish in land-based confined animal operations similar to poultry and swine growing operations.
The ordinance would be drafted then given to the Planning Commission for its recommendation before being sent back to the board for a public hearing and a vote.
The resolution initiating consideration of the amendment recognizes that aquaculture is "an important and growing industry in Accomack County" and that confined native and non-native fin-fish growing operations "may be appropriate for development in Accomack County."
County attorney Mark Taylor said the intent is to regulate the operations uniformly throughout the agricultural district.
Airport commission
The Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted to schedule a meeting with the Airport Commission for Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. in order to discuss the board's proposal to change the commission into an advisory body and put the airport under the board's control.
Accomack County Airport Commission Chairman Roy Custis spoke during a public comment period at the board's monthly meeting, urging supervisors to "think about where the airport was 15 years ago and where it is today ... It is an impressive facility now."
The nine-member commission, which is appointed by the Board of Supervisors, voted at its last meeting to request to meet with the supervisors following their vote in July to begin the process that could lead to the commission losing control over decisions involving the airport and becoming an advisory body instead -- or even to its dissolution.
Proposed changes by the Board of Supervisors would make the commission an advisory body or eliminates it altogether and provides for the airport to operate as a county department.
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