Mayor Alonzo Jones is urging citizens to be cautious due to the heavy rains that the city is experiencing. Residents and visitors in low-lying areas or near a river or stream especially should be aware of flood hazards.
“We are experiencing some nasty weather across our city today,” Jones said. “These dangerous conditions will continue tonight and tomorrow. I urge all citizens to exercise extreme caution. Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live or work, but especially if you are in low-lying areas or near a river or stream.”
Here is the situation report as of 5 p.m. Thursday:
- Danville remains under a flash flood warning until 5:45 p.m. We also have reports of ponding of water along city streets from periods of heavy rain. Remember, it is never safe to drive through moving or standing water. Here are three fast flood facts:
- Heavy rain can bring dangerous flash flooding.
- Six inches of moving water can knock down a person.
- Two feet of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
- Since yesterday, the city has received 2.33 inches of rain as of 3 p.m. More heavy rain is expected this evening.
- Danville is under an aerial flood warning until 2 a.m. Friday. An aerial flood warning means that excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots. Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when the threat of flooding is more difficult to see.
- Danville remains under a river flood warning from late tonight until Saturday afternoon.
- The Dan River in Danville has risen 10 feet in the last five hours. At 4:45 p.m., the Dan River level was at 19.73 feet. The flood stage is 21 feet.
- Projections for the river crest have changed from the midday report. The river is currently projected to crest at 7 a.m. Friday at 26.1 feet, which will be the highest crest since Tropical Storm Michael in October of 2018 and the fourth-highest crest since 1996.
- At 26.1 feet, river flooding will close sections of the Riverwalk Trail and sections of Trade Street and Goodyear Boulevard. Crews will pump water in the curves of River Street in an attempt to keep the street open to traffic. If closed, traffic will be detoured onto North Main Street and Old Halifax Road.
- The Public Works Department has prepositioned barricades and barriers along the sides of flood-prone streets. A crew will be on duty overnight to monitor conditions and close street sections as needed.
- Memorial Drive between Park Avenue and Primrose Place has been closed to all traffic due to a mudslide. This section will remain closed today and overnight out of caution because periods of heavy rain are expected throughout the day. The situation will be reassessed Friday morning.
- In the last five hours, Police have received nine weather-related calls, including one call of a motor vehicle accident.
- Due to inclement weather, Danville Parks and Recreation has made changes to the following programs and services:
- Anglers Park has been closed until further notice.
- The off-leash dog park below Carrington Pavilion has been closed until further notice.
- Newton’s Landing Parking lot to the right of Colquhoun Street will be closed until further notice.
- The Make Your Own Bird Feeder program for tonight has been rescheduled for next Thursday.
- All Optimist Basketball League practices and games have been canceled.
- Danville Public Library’s Lego League and Mad Scientist programs scheduled for this evening have been canceled.
City prepares for river flooding
ORIGINAL POST: The Public Works Department is prepositioning barricades and barriers along the sides of flood-prone streets in the city because of flooding that is expected to occur along the Dan River from heavy rain locally and upstream.
The Public Works Department is prepositioning barricades and barriers along the sides of flood-prone streets in the city because of flooding that is expected to occur along the Dan River from heavy rain locally and upstream.
Also, residents and visitors are urged to proceed with caution today when driving because of a flash flood warning issued by the National Weather Service and ponding of water along city streets from periods of heavy rain. The flash flood warning is in effect until 5:45 p.m.
The Dan River is expected to reach minor flood stage overnight. A Public Works crew will be on duty overnight to monitor conditions and close street sections as needed. At 11:45 a.m. Thursday, the Dan River level was at 9.3 feet in Danville. The flood stage is 21 feet.
The river is currently projected to crest at midday Friday at 25.4 feet, which will be the highest crest in two years and the fifth-highest since 1996.
At 25.4 feet, river flooding will close sections of the Riverwalk Trail and sections of Trade Street and Goodyear Boulevard. Crews will pump water in the curves of River Street in an attempt to keep the street open to traffic. If closed, traffic will be detoured onto North Main Street and Old Halifax Road.
Memorial Drive between Park Avenue and Primrose Place has been closed to all traffic due to a mudslide. This section will remain closed today and overnight out of caution because periods of heavy rain are expected throughout the day. The situation will be reassessed Friday morning.