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. 

DOF offers free riparian buffer installations

Virginia Department of Forestry used by permission from VDF Communication Specialist Cory Swift-Turner

The Virginia Department of Forestry is offering Virginia landowners free riparian forest buffer installations and a year of maintenance through a new program.

Riparian forest buffers are specialized plantings that help protect water sources from harmful runoff by capturing sediment and pollutants in the soil.

The installations also support cleaner air, reduce erosion, and prevent flooding.

Nearly 200 acres of buffers were installed in the first year of the Riparian Forests for Landowners program and more than $1.15 million in funding is now available for the 2025-2027 contract year.

RFFL is open to all land owners, homeowners associations, or civic leagues and eligible projects are funded on a first come, first serve basis with planned buffer establishment from Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 and follow up maintenance through 2027.

A link to fill out the landowner interest form is available here.

Then a Department of Forestry representative will contact you for more information.

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

Roanoke Officials rescue seven from vehicle in flood.

Officials in Roanoke Virginia rescued seven individuals after a vehicle was in high water on Thursday.

Crews were dispatched to the scene by the E-911 center at approximately 7:40pm on the south side of Shaffer’s Crossing.

ABC News affiliate WSET reports that there was an occupied vehicle disabled in high water.

The crews were successful in freeing all seven individuals and there were no injuries reported.

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

 

Flood Safety Week aims to bring awareness

Flooding is the most common and expensive natural disaster, but only 3% of Virginians have flood insurance.

Just 1 inch of water can cause over $25,000 in damages.

Virginia Flood Awareness Week urges residents to understand their flood risk and consider flood insurance.

Flood Safety week, March 9-15th, is designed to educate all Virginians on the potential risks in life and property.

For more information please visit, Virginia Flood Awareness Week.

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

Governor Youngkin gives winter storm update

Heavy winter weather has impacted several localities after the past two winter storms, leaving over 200,000 customers without power at its peak.

As of 7 p.m. on Thursday, more than 120,000 remain without power, especially in western Virginia.

Governor Youngkin is warning that the weekend forecast calls for more rain, high winds, and potential flooding.

The Virginia Emergency Support Team has been activated since Sunday and will continue coordinating efforts at
the state operations center.

Authorities are focused on restoring utilities, ensuring safety, and keeping residents informed of hazardous conditions.

As we transition from winter weather to potential flooding concerns this weekend, below are some flood safety and preparedness tips.

Failing to evacuate flooded areas, entering flood waters, or remaining after a flood has passed can result in injury or death.

Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry.

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States.

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

Governor Youngkin declares SOE ahead of winter storm

News to know valley graphic created by Royal Broadcasting employee Brooke Greene used by permission

Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in advance of the impending winter weather.

He is urging all Virginians to take preparatory actions and heed the warnings from their local and state officials.

Youngkin stated, “With another round of winter weather across the state this week forecasted to bring heavy snow and ice, I urge all Virginians to monitor your local forecast and prepare for possible impacts to roadways and infrastructure beginning overnight Monday throughout Tuesday.”

The National Weather Service forecasts are predicting areas of accumulating snow, freezing rain, ice, and excessive rainfall that could cause flooding, power outages, and hazardous travel conditions.

To coordinate the state’s response activities, the Virginia Emergency Support Team will be activated.

If having to travel during the storm, drivers are reminded to use headlights, slow your speed, don’t tailgate, and buckle up.

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

Water rescues occurred across the valley over the weekend

The flooding caused by Helene kept fire fighters and rescue workers across the region busy working water rescue the weekend of September of the 27.

Page County reports a swift water rescuers brought 14 people off the Shenandoah River.

That first incident left 13 campers stranded on a small island off Alger Road Rileyville.

The campers were between a backwash which became filled with swift water that was continuing to rise.

All those campers were rescued and taken to safety by power boats operated by swift water rescue teams.

Luray Fire and Rescue reports that they took a call involving a camper trapped near River Water Drive.

Boat 70 was able to take that stranded camper to safety.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. another call for help came from the Page Valley area.

On arrival crews found a man trapped in his vehicle by rising water.

A paddle craft was successfully able to take that man to safety.

In those instances, Luray, Page, and Shenandoah crews assisted in each incident.

Warren County Fire and Rescue reports 3 separate water rescue with more details to come.

There were some attempting to kayak the swollen Shenandoah River.

Authorities are strongly discouraging any kind of river activity as the Shenandoah River will continue to rise in the immediate future.

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

New storm brings more threats

Traffic Update

VDOT is asking you to be alert this weekend.

The third storm in over a week has entered the Shenandoah Valley.

Bringing with it new threats.

High winds mixed with saturated ground bring the risk of downed trees, utility lines and debris.

Please use extreme caution while driving.

Some roads may become impassable due to flooding or debris.

Just two feet of water can float a truck or SUV.

Current traffic conditions and other real-time travel information are available on the 511Virginia.org website and the free VDOT 511 mobile app, or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

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

Youngkin announces $500 million in conservation funding

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced over $500 million in conservation funding on Friday.

This will be used to address water quality, flooding, land preservation, habitat restoration and more.

Over $250 million will be dedicated specifically for water quality and infrastructure related projects.

In the announcement, he highlights that while coastal communities are the most at risk, flooding affects the entire Commonwealth.

Some of the key initiatives include:

  • over $200 million for Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) implementation to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay
  • $100 million to focus on larger community scale flooding projects
  • $8.2 million in critical operations and staffing funds for conservation and state park operations
  • $5 million to the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund

A full list of the projects funded is available here.

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