Flood Pictures

Flood Summary (October 9, 2006)

• A forecasted Nor’easter begins moving into the region on October 7, 2006 and was later classified as a cold core upper low pressure system.

• The City Manager declared a local disaster at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, October 9, 2006.

• The system began dumping rain and stalled over the Blackwater River and its associated basin. Rainfall amounts reached 6 – 14 inches along various areas adjacent to the Blackwater River.

• The resulting flooding which occurred in the City of Franklin was equated to a 75 year storm. It was noted that the “volume” of water that fell during the event actually equaled the volume of Hurricane Floyd. The reason this event was not as severe is because the level of the Blackwater River was well below the level of 1999’s Hurricane Floyd.

• The Department of Social Services opened an emergency shelter and cared for the evacuees as they arrived at the shelter.

• The Police Department Assisted with residential notifications and evacuations, with road closures, maintained site control and security of the flood impacted areas, assisted with coordination of the re-entry plan and coordinated internal and external communications among other items.

• The Department of Public Works prepared 3000 sandbags, monitored the water treatment plant and took immediate action to regain operational status upon the floodwater receding, assisted with road blocks, managed sanitation and cleaning of the flood impacted areas and managed the debris removal of the flood impacted areas.

• The Department of Power and Light managed the electrical utility isolations in the flood impacted areas and managed restoration of the electrical utility as the floodwater receded.

• The Department of Fire and Rescue monitored river status, established incident command, assisted with residential and business notifications and evacuations, assisted with mitigation of a major gasoline and kerosene spill, assisted with mitigation of a train derailment and assisted with public information releases.

• The Department of Community Development assisted with flood prediction and impact assessment, building inspections and performed a property damage assessment.

• A great many of City staff served in roles outside of their normal duties and responsibilities during the emergency. It must also be noted that even as the city employees were committing resources to responding to the flood impacted areas of our city, they were still providing services to the remainder of the city. A job well done by all!!!!

• City Council ratified the Local Emergency Declaration at the October 23rd City Council meeting. Paperwork is being finalized for submittal to the Commonwealth of Virginia to allow for public assistance and the Governor has announced that small business loans will be made available to the flood impacted areas of the City of Franklin, Southampton and Isle of Wight counties.