'Every time it rains, we lose something' IOW Co. residents recall experience with dangerous weather after Flash Flood Warning issued in area

ISLE OF WIGHT Co., Va. - Isle of Wight County has reported school cancellations, office closures and rescue missions after a Flash Flood Warning was issued Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews in IOW say just before 8 a.m., the area received a lot of heavy rainfall causing many low areas to be impassable.

Officials confirmed that two cars submerged into the water on Great Springs Road and occupants had to be rescued.

Chief Pat Humphries with the IWC Emergency Services Department said, “Here on Great Springs Road, we had a call for vehicles in the water with occupants unable to get out. We have a lot of residents in this area on Great Springs Road that have been trapped in their house and are unable to get out. So, we’re evacuating parts of the neighborhood.”

This morning our team spoke with one couple, Ruby and Rebecca Holloway, who had to be evacuated out of their house due to the high water. They tell News 3 this is not the first time they’ve experienced dangerous flooding in their home.

“Well, this is our third time being rescued by boat since we’ve lived here. So, this morning, I woke up and I checked outside, and it looked like the rain was getting kind of bad,“ said Rebecca. “So, I woke my husband up, and we started trying to wake up our neighbors to make sure they were aware of what was going on.”

Residents say they got about eight to ten feet of water in just an hour and a half, forcing them to deal with yet another big setback - valuables that can’t be replaced.

“Every time it rains, we lose something,” Ruby stated. “Two years ago, we lost everything in the garage. We had a mountain of junk. Our memories, we had pictures of our kids when they were babies in the garage, and we lost that. So, now I’ve lost everything that I’ve replaced in those two years. We’re going through it again.”

News 3 also spoke to Richard Phillips who lives on Great Springs Road. He says flood waters rose to six feet around his home, causing thousands of dollars of damage in his garage. He described the scene outside his home as "one huge smooth lake."

Officials say there are no injuries to report and that they are taking the residents who had to be evacuated to shelters that are available in the county.

As of right now, Courthouse Highway at Harry Wilson Road is completely shutdown.

The local creeks, ditches, and spillways are full and draining as quickly as they can, according to the Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office.

Numerous other roads, intersection flooding and Isle of Wight County offices are closed until 12 p.m. due to flooding. Offices were originally scheduled to open at 10 a.m., but county officials have since pushed back the opening time.

Due to current road conditions throughout the county, in-person instruction for Isle of Wight County Schools has been canceled for Wednesday.

Stay with News 3 for updates.