Chincoteague Emergency Services putting plans in place ahead of tropical storm arrival

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, Va.- Tropical Storm Ophelia will cause major concerns for areas like Chincoteague Island. Emergency services personnel tell us they’ve been planning all week on how to keep residents safe.

Bryan Rush with Chincoteague Emergency Services told us there’s only one causeway, stretching five miles of road and bordered by marsh.

With not much freeboard there, he said that makes the potential of flooding for the area serious. “We are concerned about rain and flooding certainly if the tides are elevated because our storm systems can’t drain all the streets. However, our bigger concern is going to be that tidal flooding,” Rush said.

Rush said that VDOT will be monitoring the area starting this evening through the tide cycle. He added that they do have plans in place if the causeway is closed and they’re also working with several agencies on mitigation strategies. “Making sure that we have all the departments fueled, generators are working properly, we also have some emergency supplies should we need them,” he said.

“We also include our fish and wildlife, national park service, and also the United States coastguard in our planning meetings. We all work very well together to try and overcome an event.”

Rush says there are currently no evacuation plans, but they do have designated shelter areas in place for those in need.