Virginia Beach residents found some comfort Wednesday night at the Great Neck Recreation Center. They were armed with documents, receipts, photos and most of all, their personal struggles since a tornado ripped through their neighborhood in April 2023.
One woman has sent more than 400 emails to insurance adjusters. Another is starting from scratch with her 15th insurance adjuster.
And one homeowner remains astonished by the lowball figure his insurance company quoted to rebuild his $1.2 million house.
Almost 16 months after the EF-3 tornado — with winds up to 150 mph that decimated homes, demolished vehicles and downed mature trees in the Great Neck area — frustrated homeowners attended a town hall meeting organized by state Sen. Bill DeSteph.
“It’s time to get the commissioner involved, make a difference and change some things,” said DeSteph, a Virginia Beach Republican.
Scott White, the commissioner of Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance, accompanied DeSteph on a tour of the affected areas before the two-hour meeting.
“It was really painful to see — you could just tell the lives that had lived in that house that were no longer there,” White said of one particular home still in disrepair. “To me, that’s a real stark symbol of what shouldn’t happen. I don’t know the circumstances, but certainly something went wrong there.”
White and several of his team members listened intently as neighbors respectfully passed the microphone and shared details of their challenges since the storm.
“We have our ear to the ground and know the problems that are going on,” White said. The bureau has a number of tools to investigate and mediate consumers’ complaints and ensure insurance companies are complying with Virginia’s laws and regulations.
Dr. Kent Reifschneider joined mother-in-law Linda Carnazza at the meeting. She resides on Haversham Close in the Broad Bay Point Greens subdivision, but spent several months in a rental property while her house underwent repairs. She had to move back into her home due to insurance coverage, but continues to deal with issues.
“The true disaster was after the tornado hit,” Reifschneider said.
Educated by the aftermath of the disaster, Reifschneider was quick to suggest ideas to help others who may face similar experiences.
“We just pay our bill every month and think that we’re taken care of until we find out you’re not,” he said.
From price gouging on tree removal to underinsured policies to cancellations, victims of the tornado have been through it all.
Dusty Gray said it’s been an incredibly long process — one that included his first builder removing a structural support — but is thankful he received advice to have a public adjuster assist him.
Caroline Rawls awaits the final appraisal on her home that had more than 20 trees fall on it. Rawls has had the same insurance company for more than four decades.
“I feel like we’ve been the victim in this whole process,” she said. “It’s a natural disaster yet it’s up to us to provide the documentation. Is this how you treat somebody who has been a 43-year member?”
Ginny Sutton’s house was lifted off of its foundation and deemed a total loss. Along with her home of three years, Sutton lost two cars and three trees.
“This should wake everybody up,” Sutton said. “Check your homeowner’s insurance policy every year.”
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com
