A powerful tornado tore through Evergreen, five miles from the Prince Edward County line, at 3:35 p.m. Wednesday, leveling trees and power lines and moving at least one house completely off its foundation.

The tornado killed one and injured seven in Appomattox County.

A pile of rubble was all that remained of the home of Evergreen resident Alice Clerval.

“We were in the living room,” she said. “My son’s phone beeped with a weather alert to take cover.”

A frightening sight greeted Clerval’s son when he opened the front door.

“It’s a tornado,” he told his mother.

Mother and son left the house and headed for nearby woods.

“I hung on to that tree over there,” Clerval said.

Miraculously, neither Clerval nor her son was injured.

At 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, a man was found dead after his home was destroyed near Evergreen, according to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller. “His residence was destroyed by the reported funnel cloud that swept through the region,” she said.

“The house used to be over there,” Clerval said, pointing to a spot some 50 yards from the

twisted pile of furniture and clothing that was her home.

“I’m still in shock,” she said. “I’m just numb.”

“I’ve been all over the country — from the west coast to the east,” she said. “My husband and I were both truck drivers. I lost him six years ago.”

“I have insurance,” Clerval said. “And I just made the last payment on this land last year in June.”

Clerval was comforted by the outpouring of concern from friends, neighbors and emergency workers on the scene.

“I’m 68,” she said. “I have a birthday soon, and I’ll be here to celebrate it — thank God.”

Two shelters have been opened for storm victims in Appomattox: at the community center at 220 Community Lane and at the Pamplin Volunteer Fire Department.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe is set to visit Appomattox to tour the devastation Friday.