Stormwater Prep Study: Virginia Beach

Massive flooding that hit the southern states this month sent Virginia Beach officials into action managing stormwater safety before the rain even began.

"We have a huge amount of area to cover here in Virginia Beach and it's a huge stormwater area. We don't have the luxury to see if the storm comes," said Drew Lankford of the Virginia Beach Public Works department before the storm.

The city’s Traffic Management Center worked around the clock. “From within a room, filled with monitors, showing 54 intersections across Virginia Beach, [staffers] can control stop lights, put traffic diversion plans in place when there is flooding, and mobilize crews, including the vacuum trucks, to take care of the water,” 13 News Now reported. Normally the center is only staffed from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

That is just one way Virginia Beach prepped for the storm, Lankford explained. Authorities urged residents to clear leaves, yard debris, and any items near storm drains. Police, fire, and dredging boats were removed from the water. Sandbags were prepared to be doled out to local properties as needed.

High water signs stood at the ready, distributed to police precincts. The city encouraged residents to pack emergency supply kits including drinking water, according to an announcement.

"We've tried to batten down anything. We've picked up the wooden handicap ramps, anything that's gonna be a problem as far as a missile in these kind of winds," Lankford said ahead of the storm.

Flooding and rains in the south associated with Hurricane Joaquin and heavy tropical weather patterns took lives and destroyed homes and infrastructure this month, according to the Wall Street Journal. The events highlighted the need for careful stormwater management prep, some critics argued in the aftermath of the storm.

For similar stories, visit Water Online’s Stormwater Management Solutions Center.