Beth Bristow, who lives near the intersection of Severn Wharf Road and Kings Creek Road at Achilles, said she was in the kitchen cooking last Thursday evening when her dog began acting funny.

Realizing the weather outside was questionable, she decided to turn her television on to local news. At that moment, the tornado warning for southeastern Gloucester was on the screen. “I immediately grabbed the animals and headed for the bathtub,” Bristow said.

About that time, she said she heard what many people describe hearing at the time a tornado is near—the sound of a freight train. After the storm passed and she thought it was safe, she opened her front door and was shocked. She said she had nearly a dozen trees down on the property and signs of destruction everywhere she looked.

Fortunately, she said her home was not damaged. However, she hopes she never has to experience an ordeal like that again.

According to local weather watcher Deb Buchanan, the highest recorded ...