Debby Doesn’t Do Much

Folks prepping for heavy rains and possible flooding throughout the area as the remnants of tropical storm Debby rolled through our area last week only had to deal with the rain.

Rockbridge County Fire Chief Nathan Ramsey told The News-Gazette that forecasts through last Wednesday were predicting more than 8 inches of rain, but by Thursday the models were showing rainfall in the area would be between 3 and 4 inches. The decrease in the predicted rainfall totals, he said, lessened concerns about flooding, but crews still monitored for potential flooding.

“We essentially fared pretty well,” he said.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, average rainfall throughout Rockbridge County from the storm totaled 3 inches, though some areas reported higher rainfalls. Nearly 4 inches fell in Natural Bridge and 7.5 inches fell on the mountains around the Blue Ridge Parkway. Buena Vista received a total of 3.69 inches of rain and 1.72 inches was reported at the Buffalo Creek Bridge.

Ramsey said that crews responded to 13 calls of downed trees across roads throughout the county and to six motor vehicles crashes on interstates 81 and 64 within the county during the rain. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported.