One dead, five Virginia communities under voluntary evacuation orders from Helene

The Article was reprinted with permission from the Virginia Mercury.

One person has been reported dead in Virginia and five towns in the southwestern part of the state are under a voluntary evacuation order due to Tropical Depression Helene, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a Facebook Live update Friday afternoon around 4 p.m.

The only death in Craig County was due to a falling tree and building collapse, Youngkin said, adding, “We lift this victim's family in our prayers.”

Augusta, Wythe, Pulaski and Giles counties, along with the city of Salem, are under the voluntary evacuation order. Residents there are not required to leave their homes, but the order strongly suggests it would be safest to do so.

“Although these are voluntary evacuation orders for certain communities, please comply with them for your safety. “Your life is too important,” the governor said.

According to the Associated Press, Helene formed south of Florida and made landfall in that state late Thursday as a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. Still, the effects were felt in Virginia.

The National Weather Service Blacksburg office forecast Friday morning that precipitation rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour were likely. According to the NWS, 12.2 inches of rain had accumulated in the Grayson Highlands area of ​​Southside Virginia near the North Carolina border as of 4 p.m. Friday.

Youngkin said that while the rain “may have eased in certain parts of Virginia,” a tornado was reported north of Danville.

“A large portion of the state is still under a tornado watch, and that extends as far south as Virginia Beach,” Youngkin said.

More than 50 fast water crews were already deployed with helicopter air support, “although the strong winds have limited their ability to reach some of the more difficult spots,” Youngkin said.

Helicopters were able to support efforts in Washington County, particularly in the city of Damascus, where “we experienced significant flooding,” Younkgin said. Flooding also occurred along the New River, particularly at Radford University, he added.

“I urge everyone to please stay informed, use good judgment and step up to the plate,” Youngkin said.

About 241,000 people lost power across Southwest Virginia, Youngkin added. The state has been in contact with the electric cooperatives that primarily serve rural areas of southwest Virginia and the Appalachian Power Company.

“It’s going to take some time,” Youngkin said of restoring power.

A Virginia State Police helicopter unit was dispatched to help the 50 people stranded on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Tennessee, Youngkin said. As of Friday evening, at least 40 people in four states had died from the storm, according to the Associated Press.

A National Weather Service monitor at Blacksburg Airport is forecasting a partly sunny Saturday with a chance of showers into the evening. Further showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected through Monday night.

“This storm is not over yet, and so I once again ask everyone to please stay off the roads unless you need to be on them,” Youngkin said.