News Flash

Sept. 13, 2018 - Hampton began to feel the effects from Hurricane Florence on Thursday, as winds reached about 33 mph and tides crept up to flood a few roads.

Hampton is under both tropical storm and coastal flood warnings. That means winds could increase to tropical-force, between 39-74 mph. Winds are a top concern, as falling trees can block roads and take out electricity.

Thursday afternoon's high tide caused minor road flooding. Tides will remain above normal and predicted to be in the minor-to-moderate flooding range through overnight Saturday.  Friday and Saturday afternoon high tides are projected to hit close to 6 feet. That's roughly equivalent to the levels of 2016's Matthew or Hermine, but remain below the major flooding mark. However, the timing of rains and the path of the storm can still change, and residents should be vigilant. 

Rain is expected to begin Thursday evening and continue through the weekend, with 2-4 inches total. 

The hurricane is expected to make landfall about 2 a.m. Friday in southeast North Carolina. 

Hampton's two shelters are hosting about 110 people and 13 animals and have capacity for nearly 1,000. The state has also opened shelters at Christopher Newport College and the College of William and Mary. See the shelter updates at hampton.gov/shelters

Dominion is reporting no power outages in Hampton as of Thursday afternoon. A false but persistent rumor spread that the company planned to shut down power to downtown. A spokesperson for Dominion said that there was no plans to turn power off anywhere; any outage would be as a result of the storm. Residents are reminded to report outages if they occur.

Solid waste collection in Hampton has been suspended for Thursday and Friday. It is hazardous for crews to attempt to collect trash in high winds, and the trash can blow out of control during collection. Residents should not take their containers or bulk trash to the curb, where high winds would likely cause them to blow over. Any trash containers left at the curb should be removed. Also, bulk trash or yard waste should not be at the curb; it can be carried into storm drains by flooding, making neighborhood flooding much worse.

Gov. Ralph Northam's evacuation order for Zone A remains in effect.  

Closings: Check hampton.gov/closings for a frequently updated list of the status of offices, facilities and events. 

FAQs: Check hampton.gov/florencefaq for frequently asked questions and answers.

Tips on generator and chain saw use can be found at: https://hampton.gov/1682/After-a-disaster

The city collects damage information for reporting purposes. Call 311 (757-727-8311 from a cell phone or outside the area), in addition to your insurance company, to report storm damage. For more information, click this link on storm damage reporting, particularly related to fallen trees and flooding. You should call your insurance agent to file a claim. For more information, click this link on cleaning up and documenting damaged property for claims and reimbursement.

Watch for more information at hampton.gov/florence or call 311(757-727-8311 from a cell phone or outside the area). Sign up for emergency alerts at hampton.gov/notifyme. Stay tuned to the city's social media.