US: Lynchburg (Virginia) flash flood warning extended until August 4 /update 1

Event

The National Weather Service extended its flash flood warning for areas downstream of College Lake Dam in Lynchburg (Virginia) until 02:00 (local time) on Saturday, August 4. Officials continued to monitor the integrity of the dam, which is stable but remains at risk of structural failure. Such a failure would cause the Blackwater and Ivy creeks to rise by up to 17 feet of water in just a few minutes, with strong and swift currents.

Local emergency services evacuated 124 residences in the Blackwater Creek area downstream of the dam. Several homes and vehicles were damaged by high floodwaters in the area, according to local news reports. No injuries have been reported.

Context

Between 10-15 cm (4-6 in) of rain fell on Thursday, August 2, which caused College Lake to overflow the dam by 30-45 cm (12-18 in). Flooding also occurred in other parts of Lynchburg and the surrounding areas, causing property damage. Heavy rains have affected the Appalachian and Piedmont areas of Virginia and North Carolina for the past several weeks, saturating ground soil and filling lakes and reservoirs.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas should obey all orders by emergency personnel, including evacuation orders and road closure notices. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.