MECHANICSVILLE, Va (WTVR)--Amy Chandler never forgot, being unprepared for the tornado that passed by her house a few years ago.
As soon as the tornado warning was issued and the winds picked up, she grabbed her three children and went to an interior closet for safety.
Minutes later, a tree in the front yard comes down, crushing the family van.
Everyone in the house though is fine, and Chandler said they never take any chances with the weather.
While they are waiting for their power to come back on, Chandler's husband and neighbors used chainsaws to remove the tree.
For businesses in the area, a lack of power had some doors locked tight, but others went into a cash and carry mode. Numerous vendors throughout Greater Richmond had to just accept cash because downed phone lines made credit card purchases impossible.
