Over the past three years, four trees have fallen on Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Travis Nutter’s home in the Lake Caroline subdivision.
Nutter’s home was spared, however, during a tornado that started on Cedar Fork Road in Ruther Glen and ripped through the gated community off U.S. Route 1 Thursday evening.
“I got lucky,” Nutter said.
Dozens of other families were not as fortunate.
Nutter said that seven homes are uninhabitable and a minimum of 30 others suffered damage. Trees toppled at least one vehicle as well. There were no reported injuries. The National Weather Service confirmed Friday that a tornado touched down in the area with winds reaching up to 110 miles per hour.
Trees were downed by a tornado in Lake Caroline Thursday evening (Photo courtesy of Breta Myers).
Nutter said trees fell through the uninhabitable homes. Some families took shelter at the community lodge, but by midnight on Friday, all the displaced families had gone to stay with relatives.
Assistance from the Red Cross was available but unused, Nutter said.
Trees also went down on Cedar Fork and CCC Road — where the damage apparently ended — but no other homes were struck, Nutter added.
“I think a lot of the recovery already happened,” Nutter said. “When people come out and neighbors are helping neighbors, people who don’t know each other are going door to door with deputies checking on people, that immediately made people more comfortable with the situation. They realized they are not alone and that helps tremendously.”
A notice from Caroline Director of Public Works Joey Schiebel on Friday stated that the county declared a storm debris emergency through Aug. 25 because of the significant amount of debris remaining in the county. The emergency declaration will allow residents and contractors to dispose of storm debris at no charge at the Bowling Green Solid Waste Convenience Site during regular business hours. Storm debris is defined as trees, branches, brush and leaves. No stumps will be accepted.
On social media, county residents asked how they can help the Lake Caroline community. Nutter said that’s not a simple proposition, because it is gated. But residents inside assisted first responders with removing trees and debris that were blocking the roads. He said every road in the neighborhood is now clear.
A tornado Thursday evening in Lake Caroline knocked down trees throughout the neighborhood (Photo courtesy of Terri Jennings).
“The rebuilding of homes and property will take a little time, but Caroline County’s got some pretty resilient folks and we’re always willing to jump in,” Nutter said. “Given what they went through last night I would say the mood in Lake Caroline is upbeat. There were no injuries, so everyone feels pretty blessed.”
Tornadoes were reported in other parts of the county Thursday evening and Friday morning, as well. There were reports of a circulation along U.S. Route 301 in Bowling Green into Port Royal.
No damage to homes was reported.
“We just appreciate how the county came together, and everybody supported families that suffered damage,” Caroline Sheriff Scott Moser said. “Everybody is working together to make us whole again. It’s been nice to see humanity at work.”
