Flooding blindsides motorists
Published 8:56 pm Monday, September 8, 2014
![Suffolk Fire and Rescue’s Ladder 5 assists a stranded motorist in the Burbage Grant area on Monday afternoon. More than nine inches of rain fell in about four hours, a city spokeswoman said, prompting a flash flood warning and a flood advisory that continues today.](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2014/09/flooding0908.jpg)
Suffolk Fire and Rescue’s Ladder 5 assists a stranded motorist in the Burbage Grant area on Monday afternoon. More than nine inches of rain fell in about four hours, a city spokeswoman said, prompting a flash flood warning and a flood advisory that continues today.
Suffolk experienced heavy rainfall Monday more intense than even the flooding often seen during hurricanes, according to city spokeswoman Diana Klink.
Between 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., 9.2 inches of rain was recorded at Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s Nansemond Treatment Plant on College Drive, Klink stated in a news release.
Hardest hit were neighborhoods in the areas of Respass Beach Road, Hampton Roads Parkway, Creekside, Steeple Chase, College Square and Harbour View Boulevard.
Flooding in North Suffolk on Monday meant a late arrival home from school for many students, while several cars stalled driving through water covering roadways.
Some of the more severe flooding occurred on Respass Beach Road between Hampton Roads Parkway and Burbage Lake Circle, where Suffolk Fire and Rescue and Suffolk Police assisted several motorists stranded in water 18 to 30 inches deep.
Across North Suffolk, assistance was rendered to five stranded vehicles and 10 individuals were helped to their residences, according to Klink.
Police barricaded Respass Beach Road near the entrance off the road into College Parkway Crossing at Harbour View shopping center, cutting off the main route into and out of Burbage Grant.
Suffolk Public Schools officials made the decision to hold back John Yeates Middle School and Nansemond River High School students living in Burbage Grant due to the flooding. An automated phone message was sent to affected parents via the School Messenger system.
With roads re-opened, school buses were rolling again by about 4 p.m. But Northern Shores Elementary families were warned to expect delays as the waylaid buses switched to runs for that school only after completing their secondary school routes, according to district spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw.
At Respass Beach Road, Fire and Rescue stationed its rehab bus in the College Parkway Crossing parking lot, supporting residents unable to reach their homes. The Department of Public Works provided barricades at high-water areas.
A flood watch and coastal flood advisory were extended through Tuesday morning. Weather predictions for Tuesday included an 80-percent change of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts of between half and three quarters of an inch. One to two inches of new rainfall was predicted for Monday night.
High tides along the Nansemond River were expected to bring high water to tidal areas.
Rain was set to ease through Tuesday, with partly sunny skies and no rainfall predicted for Wednesday.
Klink reminded motorists to exercise extreme caution and avoid driving through flooded areas. Even more caution is required during the night, she stated, when flood dangers are harder to detect.
No injuries resulted from the widespread flooding, according to Klink.