January 9 Storm Brings Downpours and Flooded Roadways
By: Orange County Communications Department, Photographs Courtesy of Orange County Fire & EMS
After mostly dodging the icicle with a winter weather scare over the prior weekend, Orange County was next in the sights of a system bringing torrential downpours and heavy winds on par with a tropical storm. In preparation for the storm, County of Orange Fire & EMS (COFEMS), Emergency Communications, and other departments distributed several communications over social media (see bottom of page) reminding residents about the dangers of heavy rains and wind. These hazards are sometimes overlooked compared to the more recognizable dangers that come with snow and ice storms; but they are capable of causing considerable risks in their own right.
Especially when the ground is already saturated, a combination of heavy rain and winds can cause many trees to fall, blocking roads, cutting power, and even damaging homes. While the impacts of this heavy
rainstorm could have been much more severe, it still had significant impacts throughout Orange County. Eight roads were closed due to the rising waters. The Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office and COFEMS monitored the situation and reported many of the impacts to the public over social media, reminding folks to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) also monitors closed roadways, and that information is available at www.511virginia.org.
According to COFEMS, there were six storm - related calls for service during the course of the event, including a tree falling into a home. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. One hundred and thirty - five homes were reported to have lost power. These outages were resolved fairly quickly thanks to the prompt efforts of utility crews. The January 9 weather event serves as a strong reminder of the dangers of flooding. Prepare now before the next event arrives. Learn more at www.ready.gov/floods, and remember: Turn around, don ’ t drown !
Page 15 | January 2024
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