As Hurricane Florence churned through the sea this week, I've watched hoping that the hurricane would turn away from our area. Many people living inland as we do downplay the potential impact of a hurricane. However, the impact caused by Hurricane Camille in Nelson County in August of 1969 was significant with 125 deaths and unimaginable destruction. Although I wasn't living in Virginia at that time, I've read much about Hurricane Camille since moving here.
My family was personally impacted by two hurricanes in the 1990s: Hurricane Emily in 1994, during which our family was evacuated from the Outer Banks, and Hurricane Fran in 1996, during which our Central Virginia house suffered severe flooding. We returned to the Outer Banks later in the week following Hurricane Emily and were saddened to see homes that had been washed into the ocean and other significant damage.
More recently, many in our area were impacted by the derecho that roared through Lynchburg in June 2012, the tornado that caused massive damage in our area in June 2018, the flooding caused by heavy rains and near breach of the College Lake Dam in August 2018, and other weather events. Inland damage from hurricanes more often is caused by flooding, downed power lines, and fallen trees.
After a state of emergency was declared both in Virginia and locally in Lynchburg, many residents took the warnings more seriously. Cases of water, loaves of bread, and non-perishable foods flew off the shelves in local stores and long lines formed at service stations. Many employers, including mine, verified phone numbers and addresses for their employees for emergency purposes.
As of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Florence is a Category 4 hurricane, located 575 miles southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina. Thankfully, the most recent updates show Hurricane Florence taking a more southwesterly path after potentially making landfall in North or South Carolina late Thursday evening or early Friday morning.
As of Wednesday night, Hurricane Florence has downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane; however, the system has slowed down so landfall may be later in the week and heavier rain is possible along the hurricane's path.
It's always best to plan for the worst and hope for the best in emergencies, so I still feel that erring on the side of caution is the right thing to do.
Parenting experts advise talking to your children before an emergency so they will be aware of what's happening and know that you'll be there to take care of them. Although there are many online resources, here are some tips shared in our sister publication Macaroni Kid Roanoke:
- Talk to your kids. Tell them what a hurricane is and the threat that comes from it. You don't need to share details such as those from Hurricane Camille, but letting them know it's a bad storm with a lot of rain and very high winds could be enough for a smaller child.
- Don't let them see you worry. Even if you are. Show them calm. Kids take cues from us and this is an important one.
- Let them help with storm prep. We're sharing some ideas in this article and you can easily get your kids involved.
- Keep a familiar routine and answer their questions honestly. As much as possible keep to your normal routine. Kids need routine. This helps them feel safe. And as they ask questions, answer them as honestly as you can and know it's ok to tell them that you don't know.
The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and will end on Nov. 30, so we may see additional hurricane impact before the season ends. These important resources from the Red Cross, the National Hurricane Center, and our local government will help your family prepare for Hurricane Florence and any additional weather events.
National Hurricane Center Updates for Hurricane Florence
Lynchburg VA Hurricane Emergency Info
Lynchburg Area Closings and Delays
Current Lynchburg weekend forecasts call for thunderstorms and wind on Friday and a rainy weekend. The forecast rainfall totals have decreased significantly with probably only a few inches of rain. Some planned area weekend events have been cancelled or postponed due to the original forecast, so check ahead with individual businesses and events before making weekend plans.
We'll continue to post local updates on our Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Facebook page as we find them.
When it rains and you can't enjoy outdoor fun, Lynchburg Macaroni Kid has you covered. Here are a few rainy day ideas from our rainy day fun article. Find Your Family Fun® in the rain!
- Have a read-aloud story day, letting each child choose a favorite book or books.
- Bake cookies or cupcakes. Set some goodies aside to give to the grandparents or neighbors.
- Play board games. Let each child (and adult) choose their favorite card or board game and enjoy.
- Have a craft day or build-a-thon marathon with LEGOs or blocks.
- Practice bowling in your hallway or basement, using a tennis ball and tissue paper or paper towel rolls.
- Create an indoor beach day experience. Grab towels, change into swim suits, and let the kids hit the tub.
- Embrace your inner superhero. Pull out the dress-up box, Halloween costumes, or let each family member repurpose clothing items to create a unique superhero.
Find more ideas in the complete article below:
25 Ways to Enjoy Rainy Day Fun
Stay up to date with our local news stations. Local closures and delays can be found on WSET-13 website. All of the local news stations also have weather apps and Facebook pages that you can access from your phone. If you download now, you'll be prepared for this or future emergencies. Let's prepare for the worst and hope for the best!
