Wind, rain cause flooding and downed trees in Suffolk
Published 5:42 pm Friday, February 7, 2020
First responders were kept busy Friday following heavy winds and rain.
Two trees reportedly fell on residences; however, there were no injuries and minor damages, according to a city press release. Emergency Communications was contacted at 4:48 a.m. advising of a large tree that fell on a two-story home in the 700 block of Kennedy Court in the Philadelphia neighborhood, and another call was received at 9:56 a.m. advising of a tree on a residence in the 100 block of Stoney Ridge Avenue in the Estates of Scottsfield neighborhood.
Multiple locations were impacted by high water or trees and limbs across the roadway or power lines. Several of them remain closed until crews from Dominion Power can respond, including:
- The 700 block of East Riverview Drive is currently closed.
- The 2300 block of Copeland Road is closed due to a leaning power pole. Public Works is providing traffic control, and a detour is in place.
- The 3700 through 4200 block of Desert Road is impassable due to high water. Closed between Deer Forest Road and Clay Hill Road.
- The 6000 block of Knotts Neck Road is closed due to tree across the road and in the power lines.
- High water signs are in place in the 300 block of Freeman Mill Road, certain areas of Manning Road, and the 500 block of Lummis Road.
- Traffic is restricted in the Shoulders Hill Road/Bridge Road area.
Multiple traffic signals were also out at numerous locations, including at East Constance and Wilroy roads as well as Pruden Boulevard and Lake Prince Road. However, all those previously affected are reported operational at this time.
Dominion Energy noted 394 customers without power in Suffolk at 4:45 p.m.
Drivers are reminded to exercise caution when driving. Pay attention to barricades. Don’t ignore them by driving past them.
Do not drive through standing water on roads or in parking lots. Attempting to drive through water also may stall your engine, with the potential to cause irreparable damage if you try to restart the engine. If you come upon a flooded street, take an alternate route. If no alternate route exists and you have no other reasonable alternative but to drive through standing water, take the following extra precautions:
- Do your best to estimate the depth of the water (if other cars are driving through, take note of how deep the water is).
- Drive slowly and steadily through the water.
- If you have driven through water up to the wheel rims or higher, test your brakes on a clear patch of road at low speed. If they are wet and not stopping the vehicle as they should, dry them by pressing gently on the brake pedal with your left foot while maintaining speed with your right foot.
- Be especially careful at night and early morning, as it can be difficult to see water across the roadway and its depth.
- Be aware that road erosion can occur anytime there is running or standing water on a roadway.
- Remember, it only takes six inches of water to reach the bottoms of most car doors and one foot of water to float most vehicles.