Virginia Braces for Hurricane Erin’s Offshore Punch

Hurricane Erin continues to churn up the East Coast, whipping up dangerous waves and winds even as it stays offshore. The storm is not expected to make landfall, but Virginia is preparing for rough waters, tropical-storm-force gusts, and bands of heavy rain as warnings go into effect. 

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday updated the public on the storm’s potential impact expected for Thursday morning. Hurricane Erin is a massive storm, already being felt along South Carolina’s Outer Banks on Wednesday evening, capable of throwing tropical weather across several states.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin provides a weather update ahead of Hurricane Erin’s impacts on the commonwealth. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)

“We also are seeing coastal flood watches announced across the whole region as we see the tidal flooding risk really enhanced,” Youngkin said. “This is a dangerous storm, and because of the size of this storm, even though it is offshore, we will see rain bands that will bring heavy rain.”

The governor said first responder resources are staged in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore in case swift water rescues are needed. Utilities and the Virginia Department of Transportation are also prepared to clear fallen trees and restore services as tropical-storm-force winds arrive.

“We also have asked state police to preposition resources, and that includes boats and crews on the Eastern Shore into Hampton Roads, particularly and on this side of the tunnel to make sure that we have adequate resources who can move quickly should they be needed, and we also have our aerial support through helicopters and our fixed-wing capabilities,” Youngkin said.

As of Wednesday evening, bridges and tunnels, as well as the Jamestown ferry, were expected to remain open, though conditions could force changes if the storm worsens.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management Director John Scrivani urged the public to steer clear of beaches and keep boats off the water until Erin passes.

“There are going to be dangerous marine conditions, rip currents, tidal flooding, beach and dune erosion, as well as those hazardous seas,” Scrivani said. “That’s why you see those warnings over water, not just over land.
Outer rain bands can impact the coastal areas. We do not anticipate much impact as we get further inland.”

Flood-prone coastal communities are being told to stay alert. So far, there have been no evacuation orders, voluntary or mandatory, and no emergency declaration. The governor said his team continues to monitor the storm’s track and is ready to adjust if needed.

“I believe what we have staged is sufficient for what we are currently expecting. If circumstances change, then we will react very quickly,” Youngkin said.

“Often, an emergency declaration is paired with the utilization of the Virginia National Guard, and moving even more resources, and at this point, we see such extensive resource capability in the Hampton Roads region. And with the state assets we’ve already moved, we do believe we’re reacting appropriately.”

by Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury

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