Hurricane Dorian Virginia: Evacuations Ordered In Hampton Roads

VIRGINIA — Hurricane Dorian is moving north-northeast near the coast of the Carolinas Thursday, making it likely the southeast Virginia coast will see impacts. The National Weather Service in Wakefield says "confidence is high" that parts of southeast Virginia could see life-threatening storm surge, heavy rain and strong winds beginning Thursday night. Residents are urged to make preparations by Thursday afternoon as several localities announced evacuation orders. Virginia Beach is under a tropical storm warning with winds of 40 to 50 mph expected, and gusts of 60 mph.

The tropical storm warning covers the area from the Virginia border with North Carolina to Fenwick Island, Delaware, as well as the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point southward and Tidal Potomac River south of Cobb Island. A tropical storm watch means "tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within 36 hours," according to the National Hurricane Center.

A storm surge warning is in effect for the area between Poquoson, Virginia and the Little River Inlet in South Carolina. This includes the Hampton Roads region. A storm surge warning means "there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours."

Several Hampton Roads cities had evacuation orders. Virginia Beach ordered a mandatory evacuation of Sandbridge at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 and a voluntary evacuation of Zone A. Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Gloucester each announced voluntary evacuations of Zone A, while Northampton ordered voluntary evacuations or low-lying areas.

Shelters are open in several cities. Virginia Beach has shelters at Kellam High School and Brickell Academy, and Chesapeake at Oscar Smith High School, Western Branch Middle School and Chesapeake Animal Services. Norfolk has shelters at Bayview Rec Center (pet friendly), Norview High School (with medical services) and Southside STEM Academy. Portsmouth has a shelter at Norcom High School, and Hampton has shelters at Phenix High School and Bethel High School.

The National Hurricane Center urges residents in impacted areas to take action to protect life and property and follow evacuation orders. Residents can check their evacuation zones and evacuation routes here.

According to a 5:30 p.m. Thursday briefing from the NWS in Wakefield, tropical storm force winds could impact eastern Virginia through Friday, although the highest threat is on the northeast North Carolina coast. Depending on the storm's track, wind gusts could be as high as 55 to 65 mph in eastern Virginia. For the I-95 corridor around Richmond, gusts could reach 35 to 45 mph. There is no major wind impact expected in Northern Virginia. Tornadoes are possible through early Friday in southeast Virginia and eastern North Carolina.

Potential wind impacts could include damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes; unsecured lightweight objects blowing about; hazardous driving conditions on bridges and elevated roadways; large trees snapped or uprooted; debris on roadways, and scattered or widespread outages.

Forecasters expect moderate to major flooding coastal flooding, especially along the lower Chesapeake Bay and in southeast Virginia. Storm surge inundation could begin Thursday night, but the greatest concern is during the high tide cycle Friday afternoon and night. If peak surge occurs during high tide, the National Hurricane Center expects 2 to 4 feet of storm surge above ground from Poquoson, Virginia to Duck, North Carolina and in the Hampton Roads region.

MORE HURRICANE COVERAGE:

• Hurricane Dorian National Information
• Hurricane Dorian: Time To Prepare Virginia Homes, Families
• NoVA First Responders Join Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts

The NWS warns that heavy rainfall Thursday night into Friday makes flash flooding likely in southeast Virginia. According to the National Hurricane Center, this area could get 3 to 8 inches of rain. Rain will be on the higher end for the coastal area immediately above North Carolina. Norfolk and Virginia Beach could see the most rainfall in the Hampton Roads area.

Storm surge could affect numerous roads and buildings and result in coastal damage and severe dune erosion. "Flood waters may extend well away from the coast," the NWS cautioned. Meanwhile areas inland could experience flooding, as rivers, tributaries, small streams, creeks and ditches may overflow from heavy rainfall. Flooding could occur at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas.

Patch is tracking every move of Tropical Storm Dorian. Get all the updates on the storm by subscribing to Patch's free breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.

The category 2 Dorian has maximum sustained winds near 105 mph as the center moves close to the South Carolina coast, according to the National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. Thursday briefing. The hurricane is moving northeast at 10 mph and will advance near or over the coast of North Carolina Thursday night and Friday.

"Slow weakening is expected during the next few days," says the National Hurricane Center. "However, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as the center moves near the coasts of South and North Carolina. Forecasters anticipate Dorian will become a post-tropical cyclone as it approaches Nova Scotia Saturday night.

Residents should not focus solely on Dorian's track, because impacts can occur far from the center of the hurricane. Hurricane force winds can extend up to 60 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds up to 220 miles from the center.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam urged Virginians to prepare for the hurricane and take shelter. The governor declared a state of emergency Monday, activating the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and incident management assistance team to coordinate assistance to localities.

"Tropical storm force winds, storm surge, heavy rains, and flooding from this hurricane will impact much of eastern Virginia overnight and tomorrow," said Northam in a statement. "Now is the time for all Virginians, especially those in our coastal regions, to finalize their preparations, listen to local emergency managers, and take shelter before the storm reaches our Commonwealth."

The cities of Hampton, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Chesapeake are among those in the region that have declared a state of emergency. Schools in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Northampton, York and Chesapeake will be closed Friday.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is lifting lane closures on major routes in impacted areas to make way for emergency responders and evacuees. VDOT is working with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia State Police to coordinate emergency response and with utility companies in anticipation of downed power lines.

There are no plans to close bridges or tunnels in the Hampton Roads area, but VDOT will alert residents if any closures happen. The privately-operated Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is currently open, but travel restrictions could be implemented if necessary. The CBBT's Hurricane Dorian webpage provides the latest updates.

The Virginia National Guard plans to mobilize about 30 soldiers for emergency support duty in the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads areas to be staged and ready to respond to Hurricane Dorian. Soldiers will be in place the morning of Sept. 5. Potential missions for the VNG include high water transportation using Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks and debris reduction using chain saws.

“It is very important that we get our personnel and equipment staged and ready at the right locations before the severe weather hits so we are able to rapidly respond if needed,” said Brig. Gen. James Ring, Virginia National Guard director of the joint staff, in a news release.

The Navy sent 110 helicopters and airplanes from Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Air Station Oceana inland to avoid the storm, according to The Virginian-Pilot. While four aircraft carriers will remain in port in Norfolk because they’re undergoing maintenance, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS John C. Stennis left port ahead of the storm. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 sailors are onboard the ships that were sent out to sea.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has been assisting other southern states and FEMA through a state incident management team, urban search and rescue teams and emergency management assistance compact support.