Mount Airy flooding pushed the city into a State of Emergency at 10 p.m. Saturday after severe flash flooding damaged roads, utilities, public facilities, private property and other infrastructure. Byron Isaacs said crews carried out six water rescues on stranded vehicles Saturday evening, and residents were urged to stay vigilant as conditions changed.
About 5 to 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, and The Ararat River crested at nearly 29 feet around 3 a.m. Water rescues and flooding in homes began around midnight, adding to the pressure on roads and bridges that were already closed around the city.
Byron Isaacs on Saturday evening
Isaacs, the Emergency Management Coordinator for Surry County, said the six rescues involved stranded vehicles. That detail shows how quickly the flooding moved from heavy rain to immediate rescue work, with crews responding before the overnight crest on The Ararat River.
The flooding affected public infrastructure, roads, utilities, public facilities and private property in Mount Airy and Surry County. For residents and drivers, the practical result was widespread closures and limited access across the city while emergency crews dealt with the water.
The Ararat River at 3 a.m.
The Ararat River reached nearly 29 feet around 3 a.m., then water levels had dropped about four feet as of last night. Even with that drop, residents were cautioned to remain vigilant, and the warning fit the reality on the ground: lower water did not mean normal conditions had returned.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Virginia, monitored the river level in the northern Foothills and the Piedmont area while severe flash flooding spread through Mount Airy. The State of Emergency in Mount Airy now leaves roads and bridges as the immediate issue for people trying to move, reach property or check on damage.
Mount Airy and Surry County
With six water rescues already carried out and many roads still closed, the urgent question for Mount Airy and Surry County is how long damaged infrastructure will stay out of service. Until crews can clear flooded roads and assess the hardest-hit areas, access across the city remains the main problem for residents.
