Leaders urge safety after Wednesday’s severe weather, ‘turn around, don’t drown’

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Flooding and damage spanned from Hampton Roads to Central Virginia as a result of a powerful storm system that ripped through the Commonwealth on Wednesday. Now that the severe weather has subsided, state leaders are warning residents to stay alert.

The message they want people to remember is “turn around, don't drown.” That's the warning from safety officials as some people are waking up to receding flooding because of severe weather on Wednesday, March 5.

The warning, directly from the National Weather Service, is meant to remind people that it is easy to underestimate how deep floodwaters may appear and that it is always best to avoid driving through them.

Ware Bottom Spring Road in Chester saw a significant amount of flooding. Chesterfield County Fire and EMS arrived on the scene to work to get a car out of the water.

It’s weather events like Wednesday's system that prompted Gov. Glenn Youngkin to designate the week of March 9 through 15 as Virginia Flood Awareness Week.   

Youngkin said he hopes the week of awareness will “emphasize the importance of flood preparedness and mitigation in the commonwealth ahead of spring downpours and Atlantic hurricane season.” 

There are precautions Virginians can take to stay safe and prepared for weather like Wednesday's flooding. Tips include caulking windows, doors and gaps where pipes and wires enter a building, as well as labeling propane tanks with your information in case the water sweeps them away.

According to officials, flooding in Virginia is the most common and costly natural disaster, and impacts thousands of residents and businesses each year.