ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601220064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
Friday's intense rain continued to cause problems around the area Saturday, as several locations had to deal with flooding.
Floodwaters in area rivers were receding slowly Saturday because the water had no place to go. The James River through Botetourt County had doubled in width, depositing temporary ponds in fields, lawns, and some streets.
Buchanan saw its worst flooding since 1985, with the river cresting at more than 29 feet above flood stage. Typically, the river rises to between 20 and 23 feet during flooding, Mayor Rex Kelly said.
Lowe Street downtown was covered in water until Saturday afternoon, and Virginia 43 to Bedford was impassable. Only one bay of a do-it-yourself car wash complex was left standing next to the river, and employees at the Stop-In Food Store across the street were busy cleaning out mud.
Telephone service on one side of the river was knocked out, and several businesses were damaged. Kelly said he wouldn't have estimates until after the waters receded.
"This is unreal," he said Saturday, surveying the damage downtown. "Nobody indicated it was going to be this bad."
The Glad Rags factory, Big Daddy's restaurant and a bait-and-tackle store all suffered damage, as did several homes on Lowe Street. Six apartments had to be evacuated Friday night.
In Eagle Rock, rescue personnel were waiting for the waters to recede in various spots Saturday so they could check on residents. Two families in flood-prone areas rented U-Hauls Friday in case their houses were in jeopardy, but didn't have to use them, Rescue Squad Capt. Mike Reid said.
Problems were compounded when firefighters in both Eagle Rock and Buchanan had to fight several fires Friday night and Saturday.
Vehicles got trapped on flooded roads, Reid said, but there were no injuries.
"Like with the snow, we had fair warning and everybody got pretty well prepared," he said.
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB