Due to the Hurricane Watch for coastal Virginia, False Cape, First Landing and Kiptopeke State Parks are closing at 4p.m. Thursday, September 2, 2010
Many people are wondering why the parks are closing when the storm track indicates an eastern swing late Thursday. I'd like to take a moment to explain the complex preparations Virginia State Parks make in these situations.
First and foremost, visitor safety is the absolute priority.
Virginia State Parks follows a set of policy guidelines that require us to close the parks when an area is under a "hurricane watch." This closure decision then triggers a complex set of protocols that are implemented with visitor safety in mind.
Weather forecasting is tricky business even on normal days--imagine trying to predict what will happen when the storm is nearly 200 miles wide with winds around 135 miles per hour. NOAA simply can not determine with 100% accuracy the track of this storm.
Camping in an RV or tent in a wooded area during an intense storm is a lot different than hunkering down in your brick and mortar home. Heavy rains and moderate winds can bring down tree branches and fling debris across the park. Water pumps and electrical pedestals can fail due to downed trees and flood waters.
Yesterday, park staff alerted guests that the park will be closing at 4 p.m. Many park guests were directed to the Chesapeake Bay Center where City of Virginia Beach CVB staff and a public workstation with internet access is available. Guests are able to transfer their park reservation to inland parks, book hotel rooms, check email and check the latest weather data.
Throughout yesterday and today, park staff are gassing up vehicles, inspecting and fueling chainsaws, inventorying signage, prepping traffic cones and pulling out safety equipment. All of this is done with the goal of being able to open the park as soon as possible after the storm hits.
Late this afternoon after the park is closed to visitors, park staff will secure buildings by pulling down hurricane shutters, securing outdoor furniture and closing all gates and access points.
Late this evening, park staff will secure their own homes and make last-minute shopping excursions for supplies for their families. One of the reasons, we must make a closure decision so early in the storm tracking process is because we must give our employees time to handle their personal situations--relocating their families, stocking their hurricane kits, etc.
On Friday the storm is forecasted to pass through coastal Virginia between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m., once the situation is deemed safe, park staff will conduct inspections of all the public facilities and create a plan for re-opening the park.
The goal is to re-open as quickly as possible. On Friday, as soon as conditions permit, work crews will go out with chainsaws, tractors, and work trucks to remove down trees and debris. Dominion Power will be alerted to any electrical problems. If flooding is a problem, the park manager may decide to open on a limited basis--for instance, the manager may decide to open for day use only or may decide to open only the campground loops that are safe for visitors.
The best thing to do is to check the Virginia State Parks website for information on re-opening of the parks. Again, the main priority is visitor safety. We will re-open as soon as possible!!
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