It has been steadily raining for three days. The rivers and creeks suddenly become higher as they are overwhelmed with the massive amount of rain. Rain collects everywhere: in the town streets, in parking lots, and in fields. Both the local waterways and the town’s infrastructure are unable to handle the sudden, extreme amount of rain that is falling. This phenomenon is known as flash flooding. Flash flooding happens when water collects and floods faster than it is able to be drained. Many roads here in the New River Valley of Southwest Virginia are near waterways that are prone to flash flooding. Roads often become flooded and cannot be used. Bridges that travel over waterways are especially at risk of dangerous flooding. Signs reading “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” commonly precede bridges to warn motorists of the risk. In addition to road closures, property damage and occasional loss of life can result from flash flooding as well.
On June 27th, 2025, a rainstorm incites flash flooding of local creeks, causing several roads to become severely flooded and unusable. The National Weather Service issues a Flood Watch.
Residents can no longer use the roads they depend on to travel to work or to the grocery store. A vehicle attempting to drive on a flooded road becomes stalled and stuck, as it starts to get lifted and carried by the water. While local officials attempt to warn motorists of the hazards of driving in these conditions, some residents do not heed these warnings. In other cases, adequate warnings are unable to be issued, because flash flooding can occur so unexpectedly.
Floods and flash floods are common in the summer months when major rainstorms are most common, as well as in hurricane season. These floods can, however, happen at any time of year. During the school year, days and days of rain would incite hope of a “flood day.” Flood days become necessary when the roads that school buses travel along become flooded. With the buses unable to safely deliver students to and from school, school gets cancelled and the flood reigns successful. During some rainstorms, school would end several hours early so everyone would have time to return home before the flooding got too severe. I grew up in a part of town that was on a large hill, so luckily my house and its surrounding roads were never in immediate danger of flooding. For the people who lived near flood-prone creeks and rivers, this can be terrifying, because they could become unable to leave their homes due to flooded roadways. In extreme cases, flood water enters people’s homes and buildings.
While not as attention-grabbing as other hazards like tornados and earthquakes, floods can wreck havoc on many towns, causing damage to property and disrupting daily life.
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