By Ed Simmons, Jr.
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Severe thunderstorms moved through Caroline late Saturday afternoon and early evening leaving many without power. Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) estimated that 8,000 of its members lost service.

“The damage caused by these storms was extensive,” said William M. Carter, spokesman for REC. “Frequent lightning damaged equipment and high winds blew trees down, causing lines and poles to break. Crews worked through the night to repair damage and restore service.”

The strong winds wrecked havoc east of Dawn, uprooting and snapping oaks and pines on Courtney, Camp, Herring Creek and Edgar Roads.

There were no injuries reported nor were homes damaged, though some outbuildings were struck.

A tornado alert had been posted just prior to the storm.

The Sheriff's Office reported several calls from people who saw a funnel cloud. But there is doubt that an actual tornado occurred.

"To my knowledge we didn't actually have a tornado that touched down," said Sheriff Tony Lippa. According to the American Meteorological Society, to be considered a tornado, a funnel cloud must touch the ground.

A Frog Level Volunteer Fireman on the scene said that all the trees had been knocked in the same easterly direction, whereas a tornado would've scattered them in various directions.

However, Gage Roman, 11, said he looked out the front window of his grandfather's home on Courtney Road and saw a funnel cloud. His mother was with him in the house. "It was about 14 feet tall and about six feet wide, right in front of the house," he said. "I saw it was a tornado." It was touching the ground, he added. The clock on the kitchen stove stopped at 4:58.

"I heard things falling, cracking and popping."

He called 911. His mother Heather wanted him to take shelter in the bathroom but he was more concerned about the safety of the family's cats.

His grandfather, Lloyd Perkins, was at work at Cross Brothers Grocery Store in Ashland. Perkins had heard a tornado warning on the radio for the Mangohick area which is close to the Dawn area and his home.

"I prayed, 'Lord, the storm can take the house, but please leave my daughter and grandson alive.'"

Returning home, Perkins found downed trees around the house but his daughter and grandson were fine, and the home undamaged.

Perkins felt that, judging by the damage, the tornado was up in the air.

"Trees that were really high were smashed. If the tornado was 10 feet lower I wouldn't have had a house."