Flood Awareness Week

Virginia is observing Flood Awareness Week in Virginia is wrapping up today, reminding residents across the Shenandoah Valley to prepare for possible flooding.

Officials say flooding is one of the most common natural disasters in the state and encourage families to review emergency plans, know their flood risk, and never drive through flooded roads.

More safety tips are available through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Animals rescued from Helene come to Virginia

While first responders are working to save lives in the recovery from Helene additional teams are working to rescue animals from the Carolinas.

Nearly 100 animals were delivered to Homeward Trails in Delaplane and Fairfax station October 1 according to Northern Virginia Magazine.

The coordinated rescue effort involves teams in the Carolinas preparing the pets for transport to Richmond and volunteer drivers ready to take them to Northern Virginia.

The challenge lies in logistics in an area with no cell service or internet with flooded roads and the needs of local shelters according to WTOP.

Shelters were already taxed to the limit that coupled with a natural disaster creates and even harder problem.

Volunteers and more importantly foster homes are needed to help with these animals along with supplies.

If you can help at all contact Homeward Trails to support them in anyway you can.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

VDOT ready for Hurricane Ian

Traffic Update

The Virginia Department of Transportation has made statewide preparations for Hurricane Ian.

They anticipate the storm to bring high winds and heavy rain that could down trees and powerlines or result in debris or flooding that would make roadways hazardous.

In preparation for the storm, crews inspected and cleaned drainage structures.

During the storm, they will monitor wind speeds in critical areas like bridges and address inoperable or downed traffic signals.

Travelers should obey road closure signs, be alert for debris, watch for high winds effects on tall vehicles like tractor trailers or box trucks, and remember “turn around, don’t drown” if you see flooded roadways.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.