Under the first clear skies in five days, communities across Central Virginia were assessing the damage on Tuesday while still coping with road closures, flooding and school delays.
Remnants of Hurricane Helene dropped 3.21 inches of rain in the city of Charlottesville and 8.7 inches in surrounding Albemarle County over the past 72 hours. Days of constant rain have washed out roadways, felled trees and power lines, and flooded low-lying areas.
At Misty Mountain Camp Resort in Greenwood in western Albemarle, where just a month ago 12 people had to be rescued after flooding during Hurricane Debby, 15 campers and their pets had to be moved to higher ground by Albemarle County Fire Rescue on Monday morning after water started to submerge multiple recreational vehicles.
"At approximately 2:25 a.m. on Sept. 30, units from Albemarle County Fire Rescue and the Albemarle County Police Department were dispatched to Misty Mountain campground for a water rescue," fire department spokeswoman Logan Bogert told The Daily Progress. "Upon arrival, first responders located some campers that had water up to the wheels and first step of their camper. Fifteen people and 5 dogs were evacuated due to the high water and relocated to the community shelter at Misty Mountain. There were no injuries."
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It was one of three water rescues performed in Albemarle since Thursday, according to the county.
Mint Springs Valley Park in Crozet sustained damage to its entry roadway during the worst of the storm and has closed indefinitely until repairs can be made.
The Pagel family inspects a washed-out section of Whippoorwill Road, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Albemarle County in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Flooding was observed Tuesday along the Rivanna River at Darden Towe Park in Albemarle County and Riverview Park in Charlottesville.
At its Palmyra gauge, the Rivanna was measured at more than 23 feet Tuesday afternoon — up more than 16 feet since early Monday morning. The high water flooded into nearby areas and shut down Carysbrook Road south and east of Palmyra as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Most schools in Central Virginia operated under a one- to two-hour delay Tuesday with plans to resume normal hours Wednesday.
On the other side of Afton Mountain, the Augusta County public works department is asking residents to conserve water after the Shenandoah Village Drive water booster station flooded, compromising electrical controls. The county is also closely monitoring its 17 flood control dams that have stood for roughly 100 years. Officials said they are checking operational integrity every six hours.
Water pollution caused by flooding remains a concern. The Virginia Department of Health is advising Virginians to avoid natural bodies of water for the time being.
The department issued a warning that said that "during heavy rainfall and flooding, pollution along with debris from land can wash into rivers, streams and lakes which can eventually land in coastal waterways. Pet, livestock and various other wastes in addition to untreated wastewater can end up in natural waters for recreational use and pose health risks to humans."
Remnants of Flooding at Darden Towe Park from Hurricane Helene on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has reported that nine state parks in Virginia are either closed or partially closed. State parks affected include James River State Park, Powhatan State Park, Grayson Highlands, Hungry Mother, Natural Tunnel, New River Trail, Seven Bends, Claytor Lake and Clinch River. Four natural area preserves are also closed or partially closed. They include the Channels, Pinnacle, Buffalo Mountain and Cleveland Barrens.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin toured the destruction in Southwest Virginia on Tuesday, where up to 12 inches of rain in a matter of days led to two deaths, thousands without power and severe damage to property.
“We know there are a lot of communities that now are very isolated because we’ve had bridges wash out or that are majorly damaged, so we’ve got an enormous amount of work to do there,” he said. “I lift up everybody’s gratitude to the first responders’ efforts,” Youngkin said. “There were some heroic rescues made.”
More than 70 lifesaving rescues have been made in Virginia since the first outer bands of Hurricane Helene hit the commonwealth last week.
Floodwaters flow over the hood of a stranded truck on Blossom Road the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Damascus, Virginia.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine on Tuesday called for Congress to return to Washington to approve supplemental disaster relief for Southwest Virginia and other states recovering from catastrophic storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
"I think it's an important priority in getting us to come back and do a disaster supplemental for these states," the Democrat, running for his third term in office, said in a regional press call on Tuesday from Abingdon. "This is not just one community or one state," he said. "It is a regional catastrophe hitting the entire Southeast."
Youngkin on Tuesday also warned Virginians to watch for price gouging.
"As our communities recover from Helene, be on notice that price gouging is against the law and we will strictly enforce these laws," he posted on social media.
Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a post that Virginia’s Anti-Price Gouging Act prohibits a supplier from charging “unconscionable prices” for “necessary goods and services” following a declared state of emergency.
Jacob Sowards, top, with United Central Supply, hands Noah Hicks, bottom, with Damascus Fire Department, a case of water to be unloaded at the donation center in the old Family Dollar building.
Items covered include water, ice, food, generators, batteries, home repair materials and services, and tree removal services.
While flooding has temporarily submerged and closed some roads, others have been completely washed out and will have to be rebuilt, according to VDOT.
“We’ll be working around the clock for as long as it takes to get everybody back, moving again, and all the roads open,” VDOT spokesman Lou Hatter said in a statement.
VDOT advises drivers to follow road blocks even if they don't see damage on the road.
"The roadway may be there, but the material underneath has washed away, and the weight of a vehicle could cause that roadway to collapse, and again, not leading to a good outcome,” the agency said in a statement. "These closures will allow for thorough assessments and necessary repairs to the affected areas."
VDOT has asked that drivers report road hazards to 1-800-367-7623 or at my.vdot.virginia.gov. A current list of road closures can be found online at www.511virginia.org.
Road closures in Central Virginia as of 7 p.m. Tuesday include:
Albemarle County
■ Carrsbrook Drive at North Indian Spring Road.
■ Durrett Ridge at Advance Mills Road.
■ Whippoorwill Road between Cardinal Ridge Road and Garth Road.
■ Browns Gap Turnpike from Three Notch’d Road to Old Three Notch’d Road.
■ Bearwood Road from White Hall Road to Browns Gap Turnpike.
■ Greenwood Station Road at Green Hill Lane.
■ Shelton Mill Road at Mechum View Drive.
■ Plank Road between Miller School Road and Edge Valley Road.
■ Plank Road from old Lynchburg Road to Alberene Road.
■ Burchs Creek Road from Miller School Road to Dick Woods Road.
■ Craigs Store Road from White Mountain Road to Castle Rock Road.
■ Blenheim Road is closed from Glendower Road to Secretarys Road.
■ Albevanna Spring Road from Pat Dennis Road to the Fluvanna County line, including Briery Creek Road, Briery Farm Road and Meadows Spring Lane.
Buckingham County
■ North James Madison Highway near Thomas Road.
■ The 2800 block of Rosney Road.
■ The 1400 block of Randolph Creek Road.
■ Ridge Road and Penlan Road.
■ Claybank Road and Back Mountain Road.
■ Plank Road and Back Mountain Road.
■ School Road.
■ Johnson Station Road.
■ Thomas Road and Allen Lake Road.
■ Slate Hill Road.
■ Buffalo Road.
Greene County
■ Mutton Hollow Road from Matties Run Road to Spotswood Trail.
■ Octonia Road at South River Road.
■ Entry Run Road at Taylor Mountain Road.
■ Durrett Ridge Road.
Madison County
■ Elly Road between Oak Park Road and Larkins Mill Lane.
■ Hughes River Road between FT Valley Road and the Rappahannock County line, including South FT Valley Road and Nethers Road.
■ Emmett Road from Etlan Road to Champe Plain Road.
■ Mutton Hollow Road.
Nelson County
■ Davidson Drive from Cove Valley Lane to Faber Road.
■ Starvale Lane between Stagebridge Road and Faber Road.
■ Rockfish River Road between Rock Spring Road and Farrar Bridge Lane.
■ Mill Pond Road from Laurel Road to the Albemarle County line, including Faber Road and Johnson Purvis Lane.
■ Howardsville Turnpike between Mount Alto Road and Rockfish River Road, including Wolf Mountain Lane.
Orange County
■ Greenwood Road from Constitution Highway to Spicers Mill Road.
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