| Updated maps showing projected hurricane storm surge flooding along coastal areas including Virginia Beach have been released by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), and the new maps have produced some significant changes for Virginia Beach..
Storm surge is the most dangerous effect of a hurricane and the reason why citizens are often advised to evacuate to a safe location. If you live or vacation in Virginia Beach, it is vital that you understand your risk of hurricane storm surge flooding. Everyone should review these maps now so they know whether to evacuate from potential flooding when a hurricane threatens the area.
The biggest change with the new maps is that more areas appear to be at risk for storm surge flooding. The full impact of these latest findings on the overall evacuation plan is not yet known because the surge maps are just one part of a multi-faceted study. Several key pieces have yet to be completed, including the population and traffic analyses. The entire study must be completed before any final outcomes are known, and the study is scheduled to be completed by spring 2008.
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The data used to create the maps come from the partially-completed Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Study, a joint effort by VDEM, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and coastal localities. It updates an earlier evacuation study released in 1992. The maps released by VDEM show the storm surge areas on a regional and local level. Detailed information about a specific locality and whether a property is in a storm surge area can be obtained by contacting the City of Virginia Beach’s Office of Emergency Management Office at 385-8466.
| Contact Information: |
| Emergency Management |
| 2408 Courthouse Dr. |
| Municipal Center, Bldg. 21 |
| Virginia Beach, VA 23456 |
| mmarchba@vbgov.com |
| Direct: (757) 385-8466 |
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