Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Nelson County residents stranded as flooding sinks roads, damages infrastructure

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Some folks are stranded in their homes in Nelson County Monday night as the weather continues to have an impact. Six roads are closed in the county according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Some of the road issues are from the river’s flooding. Jesse Rutherford with the Virginia Department of Transportation said he hasn’t seen it this high in a long time.

Other issues are from overloaded drainage pipes. “There are some places where road pipes ripped out, the one way in, the one way out. So trying to coordinate with relatives, and friends and neighbors to make sure they can get groceries and get in and out,” Rutherford said.

VDOT said they are assessing and repairing the damage as quickly as possible, but they want to remind you not to drive through flooded roads.

RELATED: Roadway in Nelson County washed away from Helene

We spoke with one woman who is stranded along with her husband and neighbors because River Trail Road, leaving her neighborhood, sank into the creek.

There are at least a dozen homes near her that are impacted according to Marji Amante.

Amante said that’s why she’s worried whether this road will be able to get fixed quickly.

“People are feeling fine about the short term. I think the biggest question is how long, like I said, how long does it take to build a new road?” she said.

She said they have everything they need right now but she does worry about what they would do in an emergency.

We did see VDOT working here as we checked out the area.

Amante said roads are something you take for granted until you aren’t able to use them.

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