DELMARVA - Numerous towns and cities across the Delmarva Peninsula have begun preparations as a potentially strong coastal storm barrels northward towards our area.
The developing coastal low just today prompted a Tropical Storm Warning for Accomack County, Virginia and Worcester County, Maryland from the National Hurricane Center, with the brunt of it expected to begin Friday night and lasting well into Saturday.
In a Facebook post, the Town of Chincoteague says the storm system will be the most significant one seen in the area in some time and asks neighbors to start preparing now.
Neighbors are asked to secure outdoor items at risk of blowing or floating away. People should be ready for likely power outages, the Town says. Officials also go on to warn drivers not to attempt to drive through flooded roads.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will reportedly monitor the causeway into Chincoteague and will try to give the Town a one-hour notice if closure is necessary.
Ocean City’s Fire Department says now is the time to ensure families have an emergency kit and checklists ready to go. Just across the Isle of Wight Bay, Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department also released an extensive list of tips to prepare, survive, and be safe during tropical storms.
Further south in Worcester County, Stockton Volunteer Fire Company says they are preplanning and staging resources for a quick and coordinated response during the storm.
Coastal towns in Delaware also released preparation notices Thursday. The Town of Dewey Beach warned of high winds, rip currents, flooding, and extensive rain over the weekend, and noted that while residents of Dewey Beach may be accustomed to coastal storms, visitors may not be. Both residents and visitors are asked to avoid parking vehicles close to the bay and to secure outdoor furniture and appliances.
“Use extreme caution when accessing the ocean beach,” the Town of Dewey Beach said in a social media post. “Rip currents are inevitable, and high surf and beach erosion are likely.”
WBOC will continue to monitor the system as it moves north. More information on how to effectively prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes can be found at these links: