Flash Flood in Virginia, September 6, 1996

Tropical Storm Fran moved from near Danville around dawn on the 6th to Hot Springs by early afternoon. The storm weakened to a depression around this time, moving north of the state by mid-evening. Torrential rainfall associated with the storm poured onto saturated soil, causing widespread and in many cases catastrophic flooding across the entire western half of Virginia beginning during the pre-dawn hours, which continued until late afternoon.The hardest hit areas were in the Shenandoah Valley, where maximum transport of tropical moisture was lifted over some of the highest terrain in the state to produce incredible rain totals. In some areas of the Shenandoah Valley, the flood's impact exceeded that of January 1996 and November 1985. Massive public and private property damage was sustained in Warren, Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham, and Augusta Counties. In general, storm total rainfall in these areas ranged from 5 to 8 inches at lower elevations, with 9 to 12 inches along the highest peaks of the Shenandoah National Park. Notable totals at high elevations included 15.61 inches and 14.30 inches at Big Meadows and Toms Branch in Shenandoah National Park. The storm's heaviest rains fell in a six-hour period at any one location, but rainfall rates ranged from between 1 and 2 inches per hour to as high as 4 inches per hour along the higher terrain.Three persons perished in northwest Virginia as a result of the flooding. In Highland Co, a woman drowned when she became trapped in an all-terrain vehicle while trying to cross a flooded creek. Two young males were swept away in Augusta Co north of Staunton when trying to cross a washed-out bridge along the Middle River. More than 100 persons were rescued from Fran's floodwaters during the event.Numerous school districts closed prior to Fran's arrival. Such decisions may have saved lives, as local school bus routes through flood-prone areas were either flooded or washed out during the day. However, not all school systems closed, and some problems did occur. In western Loudoun Co, a full school bus became stranded, requiring rescue operations. No injuries were reported.Notable flood-related incidents included: rooftop rescues in the Shenandoah Valley, including a mother and child in Augusta Co, six persons in Page Co, and 5 more from a third-floor apartment in Rockingham Co; portions of every road were closed in Page and Madison Counties; 40 homes were destroyed and 165 others sustained major damage in Shenadoah Co; fourteen homes and two barns were damaged in Loudoun Co, and 50 basements flooded in Rappahannock Co.Damage was extensive state-wide. Estimates placed property dollar damage at $300 million. A bumper crop of late summer and early autumn fruits and vegetables was thinned by the storm; farmers in counties around the Shenandoah Valley suffered major losses. In all, $72 million in agricultural damage was reported across the state; $50 million in crops alone - mainly across the western half of the state. Across northern Virginia, property damage, including that to rural electric cooperatives, totaled nearly $96 million; agricultural damage totalled $38.4 million. These values were combined flash flood and river flood damage.