25th Anniversary of Deadly Tornado in Stoneville
Today marks the 25th anniversary of a deadly tornado that tore through the town of Stoneville, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The EF3 tornado, with recorded wind speeds between 136 and 165 miles per hour, leveled hundreds of homes and caused more than 25 injuries.
Sadly, two people lost their lives that day – Beth Mitchell and Howell Hickman.
Tornadoes are rare in the western Piedmont of North Carolina and Virginia, which is why the impact of this storm was so devastating.
To honor the lives lost and the community’s resilience, a memorial will be held this afternoon at 3:15 p.m.
at Friendship Park, one of the many sites that were destroyed by the tornado.
The community of Stoneville is no stranger to severe weather, and as we head into our spring severe weather season, it’s important to remember the power of mother nature.
Today, the community will reflect on this somber anniversary and pay their respects to those who were affected by the deadly tornado 25 years ago.
