Published: March 04, 2008 09:58 pm      

Storm causes heavy rains, power outages

PRINCETON — Heavy rain created flash flood conditions and power outages in both Virginias Tuesday as a storm front swept across the region.

National Weather Service forecasters in Blacksburg, Va., issued a flash flood warning at approximately 6 p.m. for Tazewell County. Communities where flooding was possible included Tip Top, Tazewell, Richlands, Claypool Hill, Cedar Bluff, Burkes Garden and other areas. Tazewell County 911 dispatchers had received word by 7:15 p.m. of high waters outside the town of Tazewell,

Tazewell County later had reports of high water in Tazewell, Tannersville, Pounding Mill and Wardell, but it was receding by 9:15 p.m.

In Mercer County, the Bluefield Fire Department was dispatched 7:46 p.m. when fire was seen from a power pole at 1713 Jefferson Street. People were evacuated from the nearby Bluefield Dance Theater as a precaution, said Capt. Richard Hodge. No losses of electricity were reported, but American Electric Power was notified, he said.

Power outages were reported Bramwell and transformer fire was reported on Stadium Drive, according to a Mercer County 911 dispatcher. No problems with high waters had been called in.

Forecasters also issued a severe thunderstorm watch Tuesday that included Bland, Giles, Tazewell and Wythe counties in Virginia and the West Virginia counties of Mercer, Monroe and Summers.

Today’s forecast included a slight chance of snow and additional rain. Tuesday’s heavy rains gave area work crews plenty to do as runoff created deep puddles and left debris on local roadways.

“We’ve had pooling and rocks,” said Mike McMillion, acting supervisor at the state Department of Highways in Gardner. “I’m getting calls on top of calls from all over. Drains are stopping up. I’m making a list as we speak.”

Calls about water and debris sent crews to U.S. Route 52, Airport Road, Lorton Lick Road and other areas of Mercer County, McMillion said.

Pooling water was also reported on Stafford Drive in Princeton and at College Avenue and Union Street in Bluefield. One Union Street resident it was not the first time she was worried about water getting into her home.

“Two years ago it filled up my basement,” said Emily Crawford of Union Street. “I have two sump pumps. The drains are overflowing, and I’m glad the school bus got by because the rain has been bad.”