de ophelia

Del. - The Delaware Emergency Management Agency is currently coordinating with officials from FEMA Region 3, state, county, and local agencies to respond to the potential impacts from Tropical Storm Ophelia throughout Delaware.

The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood warning, high wind warning, high surf advisory, and high rip current risk for coastal communities. High winds are expected into this evening and rainfall will persist over the next two days.

According to the state, DEMA, county emergency management officials, and officials from the city of Wilmington are monitoring the situation and prepared to respond. The Delaware National Guard is being activated and will be in place to support any necessary operations by 1 p.m. Saturday. On Friday, emergency officials in Kent and Sussex County met with town managers and local fire companies and first responders to assess needs and plan operations for the weekend. The state says DelDOT and other agencies are standing by to provide support as needed.

The state says the biggest concerns right now are flooding in low lying areas in coastal Kent County, near Long Neck and Oak Orchard in Sussex County, as well as the potential effect of tidal cycles on flooding and water drainage across the region. The area could receive up to two inches of rain or more in several areas over the next two days. Forecast winds are expected to shift from an onshore flow to a westerly flow by Sunday.

The state says DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation has already closed campgrounds in coastal areas and some mobile home parks in Sussex County have had power shut off to prevent transformer inundation. 

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