Virginia under state of emergency due to Hurricane Helene

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in Florida on Thursday.

The storm will go through Western Virginia and western portions of Virginia may see heavy rainfall and flooding, according to the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center. Forecasts predict that the Commonwealth will begin experiencing rainfall related to Helene in the evening on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Declaring a state of emergency allows Youngkin and his administration to access special resources designed to help the state respond to and recover from emergency events.

“[Forecasts] indicate that the western portion of the Commonwealth could experience significant rainfall and flooding into the weekend combined with pre-cursor rainfall events predicted in the next few days,” Youngkin’s office said in the release.

Youngkin’s office said additional concerns include flooding, tornados and strong winds.

AAA reminds drivers to be prepared for whatever the storm may bring. If roads are flooded, AAA advises drivers to do the following:

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown. As little as six inches of water can cause drivers to lose control of vehicles and potentially stall engines. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads. Turn around, find another way or return to a safe location.

• Never drive through standing water . Standing water can be deceiving and motorists should avoid it. No matter how shallow it may appear, water may be concealing downed power lines, be deeper than it appears, or have significant force from flooding.

• Slow down . With wet pavement conditions, allow ample stopping distance between cars by increasing the following distance of the vehicle in front of you so you are able to stop in time for intersections, turns and making unexpected stops.

• Avoid hard braking . Even if brakes work under normal conditions, that doesn’t mean they will react the same on slippery roads where tires roll with less traction. Slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply and drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.

• Take the nearest exit . If conditions worsen to the point where you develop safety concerns, exit the roadway and go to the nearest safe spot. Don’t stop on the shoulder or under a bridge unless it is unsafe to proceed otherwise.