Tropical Storm Debby is packing heavy, soaking rain that could cause ponding and flooding in Virginia and create hazardous road conditions.
Drivers are urged to be alert as ditches, creeks, rivers and lakes can quickly swell out of their banks, flooding onto the roadway.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch in portions of central, south central and southeast Virginia through Friday evening. The Flood Watch includes Virginia Beach, Elizabeth City, Emporia, Wakefield, Petersburg, Williamsburg, Richmond, Goochland, Farmville, Lake Monticello and Western Louisa.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a State of Emergency Tuesday ahead of the storm.
According to the National Hurricane Center, since 2013, more than half of the fatalities from tropical systems in the U.S. have been due to flooding from rainfall.
“Water on the roadway from a tropical system can hide many hazards including washed out pavement, downed power lines and storm debris. It’s not worth the risk to try and drive through it,” said Morgan Dean, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Virginia.
“Weather and road conditions can change in an instant. Know before you go, and stay home, if you can, if the conditions will make it unsafe to be on the roads.”
AAA: Wet-weather driving tips
- Turn around, don’t drown: As little as six inches of water can cause drivers to lose control of vehicles and potentially stall engines. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads. Turn around, find another way, or find a safe location.
- Never drive through standing water: Standing water can be deceiving and motorists should avoid it. No matter how shallow it may appear, water may be concealing downed power lines, be deeper than it appears, or have significant force from flooding. Standing water may also be hiding potholes or a washed out roadway: Another good reason not to drive through it.
- Watch out for debris or downed wires on the roadways: If in a vehicle that is in contact with a downed power line, the best rule is to stay there until help arrives. If there is an imminent danger, such a fire, stand on the door frame or edge of the vehicle and jump clear with both feet at the same time. Do not make contact with anything on the vehicle so that your body does not become a pathway for the electricity to reach the earth.
- Slow down: Drivers are more likely to lose control of the vehicle when roads are wet. Drivers should reduce their speed to correspond to the amount of water on the roadway. At speeds as low as 35 mph, new tires can still lose some contact with the roadway.
- Increase following distance: This is even more important when driving near vans, recreational vehicles and cars pulling trailers that may be adversely affected by the wind.
- Avoid cruise control: This feature works great in dry conditions, but when used in wet conditions, the chance of losing control of the vehicle can increase. To prevent loss of traction, the driver may need to reduce the car’s speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be accomplished when cruise control is engaged. Avoiding cruise control will also allow the driver more options to choose from when responding to a potential loss-of-traction situation, thus maximizing your safety. Cruise control can also cause hydroplaning.
- Watch for hydroplaning: No car is immune from hydroplaning on wet surfaces, including four-wheel drive vehicles. With as little as 1/12 inch of water on the road, tires have to displace a gallon of water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road.
- Brake early: Braking early, but not hard, will allow the time needed to slow the car. Even if brakes work under normal conditions that doesn’t mean they will react the same on slippery roads where tires roll with less traction. To reduce chances of hydroplaning, drivers should slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply and drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
- Drive with greater caution and alertness: The key to driving safely in rainy weather is to concentrate on every aspect of driving. Avoiding distractions is essential.
- Check your wipers: Before leaving the house, make sure your windshield wipers are working properly.
- Be wary of changing wind conditions: Wind gusts often accompany stormy weather. Larger trucks are more affected by high winds, so give them plenty of room on the roadways.
- Pay attention to emergency alerts: Alerts are provided by the National Weather Service to mobile phones with no sign up required.
- Make yourself visible: If you are forced to stop in traffic due to poor visibility, turn on emergency flashers immediately.
- Slow down, move over: A reminder, drivers need to slow down and move over for roadside workers, including emergency roadside service crews, first responders, and law enforcement officers displaying red, blue or amber emergency lights. As of last July, Virginia’s Move Over law now also includes ALL stationary vehicles on the side of the road, displaying hazard lights, flares or warning signs. Give them the space to be safe.
- Seek higher ground: If the vehicle stalls or is suddenly caught in rising water, leave it immediately.
- Take the nearest exit: If conditions worsen to the point where there are any safety concerns, exit the roadway. Don’t just stop on the shoulder or under a bridge unless it is unsafe to proceed otherwise. If your visibility is compromised, other drivers may be struggling too.
AAA: Preparing an emergency kit
Remember to make sure your emergency kit is fully stocked and in your vehicle before the storm arrives.
- Fully charged cell phone and car charger
- First-aid kit
- Blanket
- Flashlight with extra fresh batteries
- Rags, paper towels or pre-moistened wipes
- Emergency warning devices such as road flares or reflectors
- Jumper cables or a jump box
- Drinking water/snacks for everyone in the car including pets
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Crystal Graham
