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Roads under water in Hampton

Posted at 7:19 AM, Oct 29, 2012
and last updated 2012-10-29 07:24:29-04

Video - Laurie Simmons is on Armistead Avenue in Hampton. Roads are impassable. Cars are underwater, and high tide is approaching.

More than three dozen streets flooded in Hampton on Sunday morning as tides crested about 6 feet above mean low water.

Officials say Hampton has seen close to 2 inches of rain so far, according to the National Weather Service. Those totals are expected to reach 5-7 inches by Tuesday.

Winds varied between 18 mph and 32 mph during the day on Sunday, but are expected to increase to 35 mph to 45 mph, with gusts 50-60 mph on Monday.

Flooded areas include:

• Riverdale (Charlton Drive, Wheatland Drive, Tide Mill Lane)
• Wythe (around Indian Creek – Powhatan Parkway-Chesapeake Avenue, Harbor Drive, Chincoteague Dr., Pochin Place, Pocahontas Place and O’Canoe; also Wythe Parkway; and Victoria Boulevard by the city line)
• Fox Hill-Grandview (Bonita Drive, Beach Road, Grandview Drive, Grundland Drive; Old Buckroe &Fox Hill roads, Dandy Point Road at Beach, Harris Creek Road)
• Phoebus (Hope Street, Mellen Street, Willard Avenue, Virginia Avenue)
• Pasture Point-East Hampton (Pembroke Avenue, River Street, Myrtle Street, Holly Street, Marshall Street)
• Fort Monroe (McNair Avenue)
• Buckroe (First Street, Resort Boulevard, 5th Street, Tappan Aavenue, Seaboard Avenue)
• Coliseum Central (Armistead Avenue by the Home Depot to Pine Chapel Road)
• Merrimac Shores (Chesapeake Avenue and Catesby Jones Avenue)
• Downtown (Lincoln Street, Washington Street; Bridge Street, Syms Street)
• Near NASA (Wythe Creek at Carys Chapel Road)
• Willow Oaks (Harris Creek Road)

Residents of these and other low-lying areas are urged to evacuate to friends' or family on higher ground. People should not attempt to drive through these areas, especially during high tides (roughly, 9 a.m. and p.m.) Drivers are also reminded that power outages may affect traffic signals. If a traffic signal is not operative, a 4-way stop is created. All drivers should use caution.

Twenty-nine people were in the city’s shelter at the Phenix School, 1061 Big Bethel Road, which opened Saturday evening. The shelter at Bethel High School, 1067 Big Bethel Road, is also open for those with pets. Anyone who goes to a shelter should bring any medications or special needs equipment; air mattresses, blankets and pillows; diapers, toys, games and books for children; food; and water (recommended 1 gallon per person per day). Pet owners should bring a cage or crate, food and water, shot records and medications.

A number of homeless citizens were being cared for Saturday by the Night’s Welcome winter shelter program. They will continue to be cared for through the day and evening Sunday by the HELP program.

City emergency workers, including police, fire and public works employees, remain on extended shifts, dealing with any emergencies that developed, cleaning clogged drains and posting signs on flooded streets.

Dominion Virginia Power, which has already said that power outages are expected, said that because the storm will build in intensity over time, the company’s linemen and other workers will be aided by utility workers from other states.