(Danville, Va.) — The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch beginning Saturday morning for Danville, Pittsylvania County and other portions of Virginia and North Carolina. The watch will take effect at 8 a.m. Saturday and continue through Monday evening. Flash flooding is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas, including rivers, streams, creeks and urban areas. A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. The watch was issued because heavy rain from Florence will lead to flash flooding across the area, especially from Saturday afternoon and evening into Monday.
• Major flooding of the Dan River is expected by Monday, with a projected crest of 27.3 feet on Monday afternoon. The record flood level recorded for the Dan River at Danville was 28.65 feet during Hurricane Fran in 1996. Since then, the highest level was 25 feet on April 25, 2017.
• Wind gusts around 30 mph are expected through tonight and into Saturday. With the ground already saturated from the rainfall received this month and in August, these wind gusts could push down trees. Power outages will occur as trees fall across power lines.
• Isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out as the remnants of the storm moves north from South Carolina.
What the City of Danville is doing now
• Emergency management personnel continue to monitor weather reports and advisories from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and other state agencies.
• Public Works crews will monitor streets over the weekend. Pumps are in place on River Street to keep the street open to through traffic. A detour of River Street and other flood prone streets will be put in place if necessary.
• The Public Works Department continued today to replenish public sand piles. Sand remains available at three locations. Those locations are the recycling area at South Boston Road and Halifax Road, the empty lot at the corner of Main Street and Memorial Drive, and at Colonial Court. Sandbags can be purchased at local stores.
• Danville Utilities power line crews remain on standby and two contract crews remain reserved to provide assistance in restoring power as needed.
• Arrangements are in place with various agencies to provide shelters. If any resident or visitor needs shelter, then they should call the non-emergency number of the city’s Emergency Communications Center. The number is 434-799-5111.
• For the safety of the public, Parks and Recreation crews have posted signage closing trailheads on the Riverwalk Trail as well as the entrance to Anglers Park, Abreu-Grogan boat ramp and docks, and the Crossing at the Dan pedestrian bridge. In the event of major flooding, several low-lying trailheads and park properties are expected to be under water. The public is urged to avoid all floodwaters and obey all signage.
What should residents and visitors be doing now:
• Pay attention to the development of Hurricane Florence, as well as updates from the National Weather Service regarding flash floods and river flooding.
• With the heaviest amounts of rainfall expected from sunset Saturday to daybreak Monday, residents and visitors are advised to not travel during this period. At all times, motorists should never attempt to drive through flooded streets. Remember…TURN AROUND…DON`T DROWN!
• Know the Danville Utilities 24-hour emergency number – (434) 773-8300 – so that it is readily available if needed to report a power outage. Do not go near power lines that have fallen onto the ground.