VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Residents in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach still have a long road to recovery ahead nearly a year-and-a-half after a rare EF-3 tornado tore through their neighborhood.
Moving forward, their biggest obstacle seems to be insurance companies, but residents could soon receive some help from the state.
While the tornado tore through the neighborhood in April 2023, as of late August 2024, many are still rebuilding, with insurance companies making the task even harder.
“The frustration they’ve had, I think it’s really going to have us go back to our offices, like, what can we do to help these folks,” said Virginia Commissioner of Insurance Scott White, who along with state Sen. Bill DeSteph, met with residents Wednesday.
10 On Your Side caught up with a person who said she feels for her neighbors as they go through this battle, reliving the storm and facing hefty costs to rebuild.
“I was gouged by the first guy,” said resident Connie Briddell. “There were trees down we got in the house and of course we were hit from the back.”
State officials say insurance is regulated differently from various other service industries, and some companies have even withdrawn from Virginia. However, you can still file a claim with the state.
“You get to the point where you’re at an impasse,” White said. “This is your most important asset in a lot of cases, whether it’s your auto or your home.”
White said they’ve saved Virginians more than $5 million last year alone, and are ready to help these Virginia Beach residents too.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Briddell said. “I think it should’ve happened six months ago, but it’s good that it’s happening now, and I hope that a lot of good comes from it. God was very good with helping us get through this.”
To read much more from the Virginia Bureau of Insurance, click here.
