Island local businesses unfazed by storms, but watchful of flooding

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, Va. — As storms come close to shore, Chincoteague locals are not too concerned about the weather but know that flooding is bound to happen.

Local owner, ChincoTiki, Jordan Townsend said, “Pretty much every storm we get, we get, plenty of water coming up into our, into our parking lot here. Sometimes it comes up over the bulkhead, but it really doesn’t make its way too far into the sand up here.”

Owner of ChincoTiki, Jordan Townsend says flooding is common but not a big deal.

However, Chincoteague’s Director of Emergency Services, Brian Rush said there are certain roadways where drivers should expect flooding.”the causeway is always a big concern for us because it’s a it’s a low road that and it’s our main ingress and egress for Chincoteague Island. And then as you go out Maddox Boulevard towards Assateague Island here in Virginia, that’s also a low area that could flood with, significant tidal flooding.”

The Blue Fin Marina tied down the house boats but besides that, shared it’s business as usual.

Blue Fin Marina, Chief Engineer, Mike Burdess said, “We just kind of make sure everything nothing blows away. Know all the lights off the furniture. You can see we’ve slash against the wall and stuff like that. So just hanging out, watching the storm go through, thank God, because we really dodged a bullet.”

Residents may experience power outages due to the wind as well as high water. Emergency services officials said take their warning seriously. “it’s not advised to drive because one it is salt water.It will tear your car up to, the damage that you could cause to other properties, as you drive through those areas.” said Rush.