PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Tidal flooding impacted several areas of Hampton Roads Friday morning.
10 On Your Side’s Raven Payne spoke with an employee at The Shellfish Company near the Lynnhaven Inlet in Virginia Beach, who said they are used to seeing flooding like this, but that they are still taking safety precautions, such as not opening the back deck.
“We don’t turn on the gas pumps,” he said. “That way, there’s no explosions.”
Another Virginia Beach resident shared a nonchalant attitude towards flooding. The unidentified man even shared a photo of the Lynnhaven Inlet in the 2010s in equivalent weather conditions.
“When I showed you that picture, that was a northeaster also,” he said. “So, I mean, we have had hurricanes over the years, but it’s been mostly northeasters [that] do most of the damage.”
During the flooding conditions, drivers are urged to avoid driving over hydroplane areas and to drive slowly.
In no surprise to anyone, flooding also found its way to the mermaid city. A WAVY 10 viewer sent a photo of a car stranded in flood waters by Pearl and Ligon Street.
In Norfolk, 10 On Your Side’s Nick Broadway spoke with concerned resident, Emma Manzi about the flooding.
“I really think the nuisance flooding is getting worse,” said Manzi. “We don’t have a stop sign and we don’t have any signs that say, ‘street floods’ so we often have a lot of cars getting hit when people try to back up.”
Michael Spencer, Head of School at Hague School, shared flooding seldomly reaches the heights it did on Friday morning.
“The flooding is not typical, but for it to come up this high and that close to Brambleton Avenue is unusual,” said Spencer.
10 On Your Side even captured ducks swimming above the sidewalk near the school property.
In Newport News, the fire department was dispatched to Buxton Avenue in the morning to assist with a car that got stuck due to flooding from overnight.
Ferry service suspended
In addition, the Elizabeth River Ferry service between Norfolk and Portsmouth was suspended due to the flooding. The service has since reopened.
Norfolk parking garage open
The City of Norfolk opened the York Street Garage, located at 215 W. York St., to residents looking to move their vehicles to higher ground. The York Street Garage will remain open until Sunday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m.
City officials urge motorists not to drive through flood waters. They also encourage the use of the Waze app, which can notify users of flooded streets.
Smithfield bridge flooding
Police in Smithfield posted to Facebook Friday morning, saying that the Smithfield Station Bridge will be closed until around 1 p.m. due to high water.
Outer Banks ocean overwash
In the Outer Banks, conditions were worse, with NC 12 being temporarily closed on Ocracoke Island between Pony Pen and Point Beach due to ocean overwash. The stretch of road has since re-opened.
10 On Your Side will provide weather updates throughout the day.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
