Heavy rain left several parts of Norfolk, Virginia, flooded on Friday, November 6, stranding vehicles and forcing some residents to wade through waist-high water. Roads were closed as rainfall continued through the day, including in areas of the city known to have flooding problems during heavy downpours.
Among the hardest-hit locations was the underpass at Monticello Avenue and West 21st Street. Floodwater completely covered the roadway, which was blocked off to drivers. The submerged passage was one of several places where the rain disrupted movement through the city, with people encountering flooded streets both in vehicles and on foot.
Some motorists tried to cross the floodwater despite the dangerous conditions. On Princess Anne Road, at least two cars became stranded. Those vehicles were among the visible consequences of the flooding, as people elsewhere in Norfolk also struggled to make their way through streets overtaken by water.
For Valerie Lapine, the flooding raised concerns about whether her daughter could get through the area around the Chick-fil-A on Monticello Avenue, where she works. Lapine told WTKR News 3 that she went to find her daughter, walking through water that reached her waist so she could help guide her through.
Lapine described making the trip because she feared her daughter would be unable to navigate the water alone. After finding her, she showed her a way through the flooded area. She also expressed frustration at the extent of the flooding, saying, "There's no reason that it should be flooding this bad."
Norfolk State University student Jewel Watts was also among those trying to navigate the flooded streets on foot. She told News 3 that the combination of high water and stranded vehicles created a frightening scene. Her account reflected the difficulties facing pedestrians as well as drivers during the day's rainfall.
Watts compared the scene to a tsunami as she described the water and a car stuck in it. "I'd be thinking we're about to drown," she said, conveying how alarming the conditions appeared as she tried to get through the area.
Drivers were urged to avoid attempting to cross flooded roadways. The guidance for anyone encountering standing water was to choose another route.
