Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer
At least four to five inches of rain had fallen in some parts of Henry County and Martinsville as of 7 p.m. Wednesday as remnants of Tropical Storm Ida passed across the area.
In Richmond, Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency due to the combined effects of the Ida and a coastal Nor’easter.
Data from rain gauges in Henry County’s Automated Flood Warning System showed that during the previous 24 hours, 4.88 inches had fallen at the gauge along Jones Creek. A total of 4.56 inches had fallen at Marrowbone Reservoir, 4.48 inches had fallen along the lower Smith River and 3.4 inches had fallen at the Rangeley Branch gauge, the data showed.
The least amount of rainfall had occurred at the Sanville gauge, which reported 1.8 inches during the preceeding 24 hours.
Heavy rain began falling over much of the area at mid-day Tuesday. However, the flood warning system does not keep data longer than 24 hours.
A flood warning was to remain in effect until 10:45 a.m. today, the National Weather Service said. There had been reports of minor flooding in low-lying areas in the region covered by the Blacksburg weather service office, and additional rain expected overnight likely would cause most small creeks and streams to leave their banks, aggravating any minor flooding already occurring, the statement said.
Dale Wagoner, director of Henry County Public Safety, and Bobby Phillips, emergency management director for Martinsville, both said Wednesday night they knew of no major flooding locally.
Rain is expected to taper off by 7 p.m. today, but breezy conditions will linger, and today’s high temperature will be about 48 degrees, the weather service reported.
In declaring an emergency, Kaine said eastern Virginia could have flooding and a storm surge comparable to the affects of a Category 1 hurricane.
“It’s critical that Virginians make the necessary preparations,” he said. “While we will continue to monitor conditions, the commonwealth is preparing for a period of coastal flooding through at least Friday evening.”
Depending on rainfall amounts, there is a potential for river flooding in other areas of the state, according to a release from Kaine’s office.
The declaration delegates authority to local governments to direct mandatory evacuations of citizens in low-lying areas if necessary, the release states.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is coordinating with local officials and state agencies as well as the National Weather Service. The Virginia State Police, Virginia National Guard, and the departments of Game and Inland Fisheries, Social Services and Transportation are preparing to help local governments as necessary.
The release states that additional measures that should be taken by residents statewide, especially those in low-lying areas, include:
• Listening to local radio and TV stations for updated weather information and instructions from emergency officials.
• Making a plan now for travel, route and destination in the event that an evacuation is ordered in your area.
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