National Weather Service confirms microburst in Fredericksburg - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

The National Weather Service has confirmed a microburst caused the damage in Fredericksburg. Winds reached 80 mph. Westerly winds tore through an area on Fleming street between Jefferson Davis Highway and Lafayette Boulevard.

Strong winds downed power lines and toppled trees. Two buildings collapsed, and several people were injured. This comes as the area is still recovering from storms more than a week ago.

Several cheerleaders were actually inside their gym when the whole roof was ripped off. They say it's an experience that will haunt them for a long time.  

Trophies still stand unharmed after a large gust of wind blew the roof off at Cheer Fusion Gym and left massive amounts of rubble inside.

"I saw the window bust and looked through the mirror and saw the garage and everything start collapsing," said cheerleader Meghan Thatcher.

Meghan and her friends were practicing on the floor in the middle of the building when heavy rain and eventually hail started nailing the metal roof.

Cheer Fusion Gym Director, Mandi Spina, could feel the wind blowing through the cracks in the garage. She rushed the cheerleaders into an interior room.

"We did it at the right time," said Spina. "Give or take five seconds and those kids would have been on the floor. They were right where all that rubble is.

"The only place that's standing is where we were," said Thatcher. "Nothing else is there."

It's a true miracle. Some of the adults were badly injured when they tried saving the girls including one dad who suffered broken bones when he was buried under the rubble.

"He's pretty banged up," Spina added. "He's a trooper and definitely saved a lot of kids last night."

The wind was so strong, it tore the roof off of the gym and tossed it on an elderly couple's home next door.

They're going to be fine. Further down Fleming street, Heather Frye is just glad no one was hurt after the storm ripped the roof off of her husband's store.

"It's pretty devastating," said Frye. "We're small business owners. This is everything we've worked for. It's everything we have. It's destroyed. Luckily no lives were taken. We do have some things to be thankful for.

That includes the outpour of support from friends and family for everyone on Fleming street cleaning up.

Seven people total were injured inside Cheer Fusion Gym. Right now, two adults are in the hospital.

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