Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-13
STATE r,E|||Ig|A,
Virginia Crops,
Blocks Roads


Hurricane Connie left a trail
of destruction in Eastern and
Central Virginia although the
State was spared the battering
of wind and wave given the
North Carolina coastal region.
The strong winds which
swept the State relentlessly for
"a hours leveled corn and to-
bacco, tore down power lines and
tossed trees across highways
while torrential rains blocked
drove families from
low-lying areas and flooded Gel
lars.
Richmond had the heaviest
rain in history for a 24-hour
|period-8.79 inches in the "a
hours ending at midnight. The
previous record was 7.26 inches
in "a hours July 80. 1928. Rich
|mond's rainfall for the whole
rainy period was 9.25 inches up
to midnight.
Winds ranging from 40 miles
an hour inland to IS miles re-
corded by the Chesapeake light
ship east of Cape Henry swept
the State from the North Caro-
lima border to the Potomac and
the Eastern Shore before Con-
ME moved northeastward.
Ferries to Run Again
Ferry Service. suspended by
the State Highway Department
and the private company operat-
ing the Chesapeake Bay ferries.
was expected to resume today as
wind and waves subsidized.
Water caused most trouble IN
the central and eastern areas.
Several major highways were
blocked by flooding streams and
others were kept open while
traffic moved at a snail's pace
through 10 inches to 2 feet of
water. Most were open today
after a rapid runof but the
highway department had been
unable to estimate the damage
caused.
In the lakeside area to the
north of Richmond Is families
were forced to abandon their
homes by boat. Water was more
than 4 feet deep around the
Virginia Electric & Power Co.'s
substation, threatening the power
supply to some 1000 homes.
About 5000 homes in Richmond
metropolitan area were without
lights and power.
I At Oyster on the Eastern
Shore l59 residents were evacu-
ated to higher ground at
Cheriton and were housed in
the school. Several families
were forced to leave their homes
at West Point, where the
Pamunkey and Mattopini rivers
join to form the York. The
tide at White Stone Of the Rap
pahannock was the highest since
the hurricane of 1888. Some so
persons sought higher ground in
low spots in Gloucester County.
Small private piers were de-
molished at Buckroe Beach on
1.-THE bay and along the major
rivers. Nets of fishermen were
damaged along the bay and tidal
streams.
Highways Blocked
= Among the major highways
: blocked for a time last night
were U. S. routes /, II and $50.
| Water was 18 inches to two
feet deep on main street in
Yorktown and Tapped at bust
ness houses.
A check on highways last night
showed:
State Route 10 under 5 feet
of water at Smithf1eld; Mount
Landing Creek 4 feet deep across
Route II north of Tappannock;
water more than a foot deep
over U. S. at two points be-
tween Richmond and Petersburg
and in low areas around Ash
land; State Route IA in King
and Queen closed near Burnt
Mill Greek; State Route 10 in
Chesterfield County closed at the
iSeaboard Air Line Railroad I'M
derpaSS between Route l and
Hopewell; State Routes 5 and
I155 in Charles City County
closed between the James River
and Providence Forge; State
Route 33 in Louisa County
closed between Louisa and
Cuckoo: water more than a foot
deep on U. S. Route 301 north