Major storm impact at Delaware beaches
Remnants of Ida causing big problems for Sussex County. The state’s beaches are under a coastal flood warning and a high surf advisory through Friday night.
There’s been no evacuation order yet, but emergency officials in Sussex County are “strongly urging” residents of low lying, flood prone areas to move to higher ground. The remnants of Tropical Storm Ida have brought heavy rains and high tides to Delaware’s beaches. The National Weather Service forecast calls for up to 4 inches of rain Thursday night through Friday. Combine that with winds as high as 55 mph and high tides about four feet above normal, flooding is almost guaranteed. Delaware’s beaches are under a coastal flood warning and a high surf advisory until 11 PM Friday.
“If you can safely move to higher, drier ground, it would be advisable to do so now rather than wait until overnight when higher flood waters could make that impossible,” says Sussex County Administrator David Baker.
Anyone in need of help in finding temporary shelter can call the Emergency Operations Center at (302) 855-7801. Extra staff are being added to the center for Thursday night and a mobile paramedic unit will be in Bethany Beach tonight to ensure help will be available on both sides of the Indian River Inlet in case high water makes it difficult to navigate Route 1 in the area.
To find the latest road closures due to flooding, click here. For the latest emergency information from county officials, click here.
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