Flash flooding, tropical winds expected in Richmond from Hanna

A tropical storm wind warning and flash flood watch are in effect for Richmond and surrounding areas from late tonight through Saturday evening as Tropical Storm Hanna continues to move toward Virginia.

The storm is expected to dump three to five inches of rain, with higher amounts possible in some isolated areas, according to a National Weather Service advisory from Wakefield, Va. Forecasts show the heaviest rain occurring early Saturday morning and through the afternoon, with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and the possibility of wind gusts greater than 39 mph.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued from Georgia to New Jersey. The latest update from the National Hurricane Center at 2 p.m. EDT showed Hanna 310 miles south of Wilmington, N.C., and moving north at 20 mph. The storm is expected to increase in speed Saturday.

Several athletics games have been rescheduled ahead of Hanna's arrival. Field Hockey will play Princeton at 5:30 p.m. Friday, and the men's soccer team's game against Seton Hall University will be at 4:30 p.m. at Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond. The football game against the University of Virginia is still set for 3:45 p.m. Saturday, said Mark Kwolek, assistant director of athletic public relations.

University officials urged students in an e-mail sent Friday afternoon to close windows and stay away from them because of the strong possibility of high winds. Those leaving campus have been asked to unplug electronic devices and remove items from the floor to avoid damage to possessions in case of flooding. Officials also recommended that students stay inside during high winds in order to avoid falling limbs and other debris.

On Thursday morning, Gov. Timothy Kaine declared a state of emergency for Virginia in an effort to divert the state's resources toward preparing for the storm.

"Virginians should listen to their local government representatives and local news media for instructions for the duration of the storm," Kaine said in a statement Thursday.

Campus officials will be continually monitoring the storm and sending out updates as needed, said Bill Harding, the university's emergency preparedness planner. Any information after business hours will be distributed by the University of Richmond Police Department.

The university was preparing for power outages, but Harding was cautiously optimistic that widespread problems from years past would not be an issue. If the primary power circuit goes out, a secondary circuit installed this summer is supposed to kick on almost immediately, according to the e-mail advisory from the university.

Facilities employees worked Thursday to clear campus drains, inspect areas vulnerable to flash flooding and monitor the water level in Westhampton Lake, which could be partially drained to prevent flooding, Harding said.

The Federal Emergency Management Association has dispatched an advance team to Virginia and the National Guard is preparing to give aid, direct traffic, prevent looting and perform other functions in the emergency management effort, Kaine said in a Thursday conference call with reporters.

Earlier this week, Virginia sent some National Guard troops and other state personnel to the Gulf Coast to assist in cleanup from Hurricane Gustav. Kaine said the state had plenty of financial and personnel resources in reserve to manage a busy hurricane season, even though the state is facing significant budget shortfalls.

While Hanna is moving up the coast of the southeastern United States, Kaine also said he was watching other tropical development from Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Josephine, both of which are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but headed toward the United States.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. It includes the latest information from the National Weather Service and comments from university emergency officials. Check back with The Collegian for updates to this story throughout the evening and tomorrow.

Contact staff writer Dan Petty at dan.petty@richmond.edu