Late afternoon thunderstorms developed along the southwest Virginia Blue Ridge and drifted southward into the foothills and piedmont producing intense rainfall over fairly saturated ground and causing some significant flash flooding and debris flows in parts of Franklin, Floyd and Henry counties. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher amounts occurred in a few hours, with the heaviest over northern Henry County. A state of Emergency was declared in Henry County due to the flooding. Flood damage estimates exceeded $1.1 million with eight homes and one business receiving major damage. The storms also reached severe levels in terms of wind with considerable damage reported, mainly across Henry County.

Flash Flood in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 17:03:00 to 24-MAY-20 20:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: CALLAWAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flooding was reported over western Franklin County in the Callaway area, around Daniels Run and the South Fork of the Blackwater River.

Debris Flow in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 17:43:00 to 24-MAY-20 17:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: PHILPOTT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A debris flow damaged the power house at Philpott Dam knocking out power to the dam and causing some damage. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which operates Philpott, the timing of the landslide is not exact but the power to the plant tripped at 6:43 PM EDT  on May 24, 2020.  The slide may have started slowly a little before that time but the mass damaging slide would have been around the time of power failure. The slide occurred in the utility right of way cleared land area that goes up from the powerhouse transformer and switch yard up the hill on the AEP grid system on the Henry County side of the Dam.

Debris Flow in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 18:25:00 to 24-MAY-20 18:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: PHILPOTT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A mudslide was reported on Fairystone Park Highway near Trent Hill Drive.

Debris Flow in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 19:21:00 to 24-MAY-20 19:51:00 (EST-5)
Location: BASSETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Carson Drive in Bassett was blocked by a mudslide.

Flash Flood in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 18:41:00 to 24-MAY-20 21:41:00 (EST-5)
Location: FONTAINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Several more roads were reported to be washed out including Sleeping Hill Farm Road and Machinery Drive. A roadway was flooded at the intersection of West Fayette Street and Appalachian Drive, possibly by flooding from the Smith River and flooding tore down a tree.

Flash Flood in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 17:30:00 to 24-MAY-20 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: PRILLIMAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Prillaman Switch Road was flooded in the community of Prillaman.

Flash Flood in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 18:00:00 to 24-MAY-20 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PHILPOTT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Several reports of flash flooding were received including a partial or complete road washouts in the Bassett area of Blackberry Road and Wells Hollow Road. Emergency Management reported several evacuations occurring or being considered. A tire facility in Bassett was badly damaged due to the flooding.

Flash Flood in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 19:55:00 to 24-MAY-20 22:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: SANDY LEVEL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

The bridge over Stuart Creek on Meeks Road in southern Henry County was washed out.

Flash Flood in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 20:00:00 to 25-MAY-20 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BASSETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Blackberry Creek flooded a home along Blackberry Road near Mary Hunter Drive and Foley Drive.

Flash Flood in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 19:41:00 to 24-MAY-20 22:41:00 (EST-5)
Location: IRISBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A water rescue was performed along a portion of Cox Road in the Ridgeway area.

Flash Flood in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 21:23:00 to 25-MAY-20 03:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: FIELDALE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.17M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

The Smith River was reported to be completely flooding over River Road in Fieldale near Shadyview Road. The Smith River at Bassett (BASV2) stage was around 12 feet near the time of this report. The river crested at 13.35 feet (14400 cfs) around 822 EST per USGS statistics. No flood stage had been set at this gage mainly due to the flood control exercised by Philpott Dam. But the stage was the 2nd highest since dam began operation in 1952, after the flood in September, 1987 of 15.20 feet. It should be noted that Philpott Dam lost power earlier in the evening due to a mudslide and the dam operators were unable to reduce downstream flows to the normal extent.

Thunderstorm Wind in WYTHE, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 15:18:00 to 24-MAY-20 15:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAHAMS FORGE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A couple large trees were uprooted on a private lot.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 17:52:00 to 24-MAY-20 17:52:00 (EST-5)
Location: VILLA HGTS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A tree and a couple power lines blown down by thunderstorm winds onto Providence Lane.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 17:38:00 to 24-MAY-20 17:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: SANVILLE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree and a power line, blocking passage on Sunnybrook Circle.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 17:53:00 to 24-MAY-20 17:53:00 (EST-5)
Location: FIELDALE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds across Carver Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARTINSVILLE (C), VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 17:58:00 to 24-MAY-20 18:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: MARTINSVILLE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 2.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A few trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds around the City of Martinsville.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 18:07:00 to 24-MAY-20 18:07:00 (EST-5)
Location: FONTAINE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A tree was blown down across Joseph Martin Highway.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 18:13:00 to 24-MAY-20 18:13:00 (EST-5)
Location: RIDGEWAY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

One tree was blown down by thunderstorm winds across Lee Ford Camp Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 18:20:00 to 24-MAY-20 18:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: RIDGEWAY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A couple trees down were blown down by thunderstorm winds around the Ridgeway area.

Flood in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 24-MAY-20 22:45:00 to 25-MAY-20 02:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FONTAINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Smith River at Martinsville (SMWV2) gage exceeded its Minor flood stage of 11 feet and crested at 12.87 feet early on the 25th. There were several reports of the Smith River flooding roadways and the river was reported to be overtopping the bridge at Daniels Creek Road. This was the 7th highest stage on record at this gage since the completion of Philpott Dam in 1952 and the highest since January 2010 (15.19 feet). Records date back to 1929 at this site but pre-1952 stages were not affected by the presence of Philpott Dam.