As a result of heavy rains and thunderstorms, the National Weather Service issued varying degrees of flood warnings throughout the Commonwealth yesterday, Virginia Department of Transportation Spokesperson Tamara Neale said.
"The warnings included Cumberland, Albemarle, Augusta, Orange and Greene Counties and the cities of Charlottesville, Staunton and Waynesboro," Neale said.
Throughout Virginia, the Department of Transportation constantly monitored road conditions, she said.
"All the major roads such as the interstates are fine because they have better drainage systems," she said. "Some sections of secondary roads -- smaller routes, back country roads and rural routes -- may be flooded."
VDOT closes sections of road where the water level reaches a depth at which one cannot see the pavement or at which the water is deep enough to cause a safety problem, Neale said.
Fifteen secondary roads were closed in Culpeper County yesterday, said Tom Williams, director of emergency services for Culpeper.
"Those secondary roads don't really have storm drains, but the major roads do have storm drains, and they are all fine," Williams said.
Despite heavy rains and possibility of flooding, the University and the greater Charlottesville/Albemarle area did not experience any major problems.
"We haven't had any serious flooding, although we have had some ponding areas as well as some slow draining areas," University Director of Facilities Operations Chris Willis said.
Certain low, flat spots on some streets may have accumulated some standing water, Willis said.
"We are just taking the same precautions we do with most heavy rains," he said. "We are trying to police the storm drains and make sure they work properly."
Paul Muhlberger, director of public works for Albemarle County, said he was not aware of any flooding in the County.
"Apparently the storm drains are working fine," Muhlberger said.
Surrounding counties also were well equipped to deal with the heavy rains.
Ray Uttaro, emergency services coordinator for Nelson County, said they did not experience any major problems.
"We've had some higher levels on the rivers and creeks and streams, but nothing out of the banks just yet," Uttaro said.
The highway department soon cleared up minor problems such as clogged storm drains, he said.
"Everything seems to be working out pretty well," Uttaro added. "There were some sluggish storm drains around some of the low spots but they've been on top of everything around here."
Similarly, no major flooding occurred in Staunton.
"We haven't had any serious problems," Staunton City Spokesperson Doug Cochran said. "There is the occasional home with the flooded basement, but nothing that has materialized as any major issue for the City."
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