Crime & Safety

Reston Family in Unlucky Storm Spot—Twice

A tree crashed into the South Shore Road house during the Derecho in June, and again during Saturday's storm.

Work was set to begin Monday on the damage caused when the affected Randy and Nina Sands' home on South Shore Road in Reston.

That work may have to be rescheduled, though, because another tree fell on their home on that blew through Reston.

The Washington Post is reporting that a tornado hit the area, but Patch has not been able to confirm that with the National Weather Service.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Yes, I feel unlucky," Nina Sands said. "I feel like someone's got it out for us. I wouldn't be surprised if we got hit again."

Saturday's storm, which hit the area about 3:30 p.m. with winds of more than 60 miles per hour, also crushed Randy's 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 truck.  No one was injured.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Is there a weather phenomenon in the Fairway/South Shore/Tall Oaks area? In addition to the Derecho, 

Christopher Vaccaro of the National Weather Service said the organization cannot confirm whether Saturday's storm involved a tornado.

In order to do that, the NWS would have to dispatch a team and survey the damage to determine whether it was caused by tailgate winds, caused by a traditional thunderstorm or caused by a circulation as is the case with tornadoes, he said.

Nina Sands said she had just finished with more than a month of wrangling with her insurance company after the June storm. The tree that fell that time hit the roof above the front door, tearing off gutters and the roof's front corner and causing about $30,000 worth of damage, Nina Sands said.

Saturday's damage was similar as the tree that feel was located about three feet behind where the previous tree fell.

Several other cars and homes on South Shore and nearby streets were damaged as well. The house across the street from the Sands' residence had its carport crushed when a tree fell on it Saturday.

Within a few hours, crews from the Virginia Department of Transportation were on the street with chain saws and trucks to remove debris.

At the Sands' home, the trucks had to maneuver around fresh, new wood set in place for the original roof repair.

* Erica R. Hendry contributed to this story.


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