Thousands flee hurricane; ruinous flooding possible

Staff

Published Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Suffolk News-Herald

Suffolk City Manager Steve Herbert said Wednesday in a resolution that shelters would open and voluntary evacuations are called for where residents live in low-lying areas.

Herbert said evacuation is recommended from the low-lying areas of the city including the extreme southwest portion along Pittmantown Road from the 1800 to 3400 blocks; Gates Road from the 6700 to 7900 blocks; Arthur Drive from the 3100 to 8400 blocks; Longstreet Lane from 4500 to 8400 blocks; Corinth Chapel Road from the 6600 to 7400 blocks and the entire length of Wyanoke Trail and any surrounding streets that intersect with the trail.

Camp Pond Road is also considered a possible evacuation area all the way to the North Carolina state line, or the 10,000 to 12,000 blocks. In the area of the Franklin Bypass, people in the 100 to 300 blocks should evacuate, and those along Quaker Drive may want to seek shelter at Southwestern School.

In the central west portion of the city, at Old Mill Road in the 3700 to 4800 blocks, people should consider seeking shelter at a school.

In Suffolk's greater Downtown area, the low-lying areas surrounding Shingle Creek along East Washington Street may want to consider leaving their homes.

Residents of Oak Island and Muskrat Island are also advised to seek shelter.

In the northern areas of the city, residents in the areas around Bleakhorn Creek in the Crittenden/Eclipse and Respass Beach, in the vicinity of Hoffler and Streeter Creeks, should also seek shelters.

Capt. Jim Judkins, Suffolk's Emergency Services Coordinator, said people seeking refuge in the shelters should prepare a hurricane supplies kit with a minimum three-day supply of water, non-perishable food, first-aid kit, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, and other essential items that can be consolidated into a portable container. "Based on the projected intensity of this storm, residents who remain at home should be prepared to be without power, telephone, water or other utilities for three to seven days," said Judkins.

According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Services, those who choose to evacuate their homes should also consider the following:

If you come upon floodwaters, turn around and go another way. If it is moving swiftly, even six inches of water can knock you off your feet and two feet of water will carry away most automobiles. Walking, swimming or driving through floodwater is extremely dangerous.

Avoid driving in areas where water is covering the road. The road could already be washed away under those floodwaters.

Floods cause more damage and loss of life than any other natural disaster. In fact, the National Weather Service reports that 50 of the 56 deaths from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 were attributed to flooding.

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