By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: May 9, 2008

STAFFORD - Multiple homes in the Truslow Road area suffered severe damage following a possible tornado that ripped through the south Stafford neighborhood Thursday night, prompting county rescue officials to evacuate more than 100, many to a Red Cross shelter. The original estimate was 40.

The Stafford Fire Department has told NBC4 that 75 to100 homes have been damaged and up to 30 homes may be uninhabitable.

“I looked out the window and I could see the clouds and I could see movement, and I said ‘that’s a tornado,’ said Darwin Crawford, who was in the area when the storm hit. “The trees were sideways and blowing over. I had goose bumps all over.”

Stafford County was under a Tornado Warning when the storm moved through the neighborhood between 10:30 and 11 p.m., according to Mark Stone, Stafford Fire and Rescue spokesperson. The National Weather Service has yet to determine if a tornado actually touched down in the area.

Damaging winds destroyed the lower portion of a home at the intersection of Lyons Boulevard and Brushy Creek Circle. Similar damage to other homes prevailed across the neighborhood, with debris covering yards and streets.

Only one person suffered a minor storm-related injury, according to Cathy Riddle, Stafford County spokesperson. The victim was taken to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg and released.

Stone said it was not known how many homes were affected by the winds.

Fire and EMS crews were conducting a safety inspection in heavy rain, after the immediate tornado threat had passed. Crews said they were checking the homes for stability, making sure they would not collapse.

Stafford officials evacuated families by a school bus to nearby T. Benton Gayle Middle School, where Fredericksburg Red Cross workers greeted them with blankets, food, and sleeping cots for the elderly.

“I’m from California and we deal with earthquakes out there, but we’re not used to this; this is devastating what it did here,” said Maurice Baker, who was staged in the Red Cross shelter.

Emergency personnel were still assessing damage at 4 a.m. today.