Over the banks
But Waynesboro sidesteps flood disaster
Story, photos and video by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Waynesboro dodged potential disastrous flooding associated with heavy rain that overswept the Shenandoah Valley Sunday and into Monday morning.
The river had been projected to crest at 1 p.m. Monday at 10.5 feet, a foot over the 9.5-foot flood stage, according to the Waynesboro Department of Emergency Management.
An update from the city at 1 p.m. reported that the river actually reached its highest point at 10 feet at 8:45 a.m.
Emergency Management Director Gary Critzer, earlier Monday, had called a 10.5-foot crest “livable,” with minor flooding on roadways the biggest issue.
A crest at 11 or 11.5 feet would put residential neighborhoods and downtown businesses in the South River floodplain at risk for flood-related damage.
Photos and video shot in the 9 a.m. hour this morning show just how close the city was to experiencing damaging flooding. Continue reading “Over the banks” »
Official: South River at flood stage, expected to crest at 1 p.m. Monday
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The South River is above flood stage in Waynesboro after Sunday’s dousing of heavy rain, and is expected to crest at 1 p.m. Monday at 10.5 feet, about a foot above flood stage, according to a report from the Waynesboro Department of Emergency Management this morning.
The river is at 10 feet as of 9:15 a.m. Monday morning, said Gary Critzer, the director of emergency management in the city. Even with the rain event appearing to have moved out of the area, projections are still holding for the 10.5-foot crest Monday afternoon, Critzer said.
“Just because it stops raining doesn’t mean the water doesn’t stop collecting in the river from the mountains and from locations south of us,” Critzer said. Continue reading “Official: South River at flood stage, expected to crest at 1 p.m. Monday” »
City officials watching weather forecast
Snow-rain double-whammy caused massive ’96 flooding
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The first of the two 100-year floods of 1996 in Waynesboro was precipitated by a massive early-January snowstorm that dumped 30 inches-plus of snow followed by a heavy-rain event a week later that forced the South River out of its banks.
With snow still on the ground from the 30-inch-plus snow event of the past weekend and rain in the forecast for the end of the week, city officials are closely monitoring the weather situation, though things aren’t looking like they’re lining up for a repeat of January 1996 at this point in time. Continue reading “City officials watching weather forecast” »
