What To Expect Locally During Irene

Hurricane Irene is expected to dish out a two-fisted dose of damage to the area when it blows through today and tomorrow. In the one hand you have high winds with the potential to damage structures, disrupt the power grid and bring down trees in the region. In the other hand you have soaking rains that will fill the regional watershed, creating flash flooding conditions along local streams and rivers. 

Fredericksburg, along with much of the greater eastern seaboard of North America, is under a Tropical Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service. The storm warning also comes with associated Flood Watch for the entire region.

"The latest forecast indicates that the storm will arrive in this area at approximately 3 a.m. on Saturday, August 27," wrote Fredericksburg Police Public Information Officer Natatia Bledsoe in a message to residents. "By 4 a.m. Sunday, Hurricane Irene should be moving northward up the coast."

The National Weather Service warns that the rains could result in flooding starting Saturday afternoon as the watershed swells and running through Sunday morning. 

"Heavy rains from Hurricane Irene are expected to bring storm total rainfall, amounts two to five inches," reads the NWS Flash Flood Watch. "Locally higher amounts upward of six to eight inches along the Western shore of the Maryland Chesapeake Bay."

With the potential for flooding, the Friends of the Rappahannock are urging riverside property holders to tie down any hazardous materials that could pollute the river should it spill its banks. 

"Secure hazardous materials and potentially polluting supplies such as fuel, oil, fertilizers on high ground, safe from rainfall and flooding," reads a post on FoR's Facebook page. 

In terms of wind speed, Irene should be less powerful than Thursday's storm had a peak windspeed of 57 mph, according to the University of Mary Washington. Irene will be a bit milder, but it will last for far longer than Thursday's brief, but violent, downpour. 

With that in mind, city rescue services are urging locals to be prepared to take shelter in their homes. 

"All residents should have on hand an adequate supply of bottled water, non-perishable food items, medication, flashlights and batteries and provisions for pets," wrote Bledsoe. 

City agencies are also beefing up their staffing in advance of Irene. The Fredericksburg Fire, Police, Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments will all have additional staff ready to respond to emergency situations as they arise.