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Laurel Creek 1SE Damascus

National Weather Service gauge DMCV2 · Virginia · Washington County · 36.6256, -81.7705

Flood levels

Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 6.0 ft; minor flooding begins at 8.0 ft; moderate flooding begins at 12.0 ft; major flooding begins at 14.0 ft.

Action stage6.0 ft
Minor flooding8.0 ft
Moderate flooding12.0 ft
Major flooding14.0 ft

Highest recorded crests

What the water does

National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.

6.0 ftLow lying areas downstream, including where Helene wiped out a trailer park, begin to be affected.
8.0 ftStream leaves its banks around Hwy 91.
10.0 ftFlooding begins to threaten portions of Highways 91 and 58, and various low lying roads. Water reaches the surface of the streamside deck behind The Orchard on Hwy 58 northwest of town.
12.0 ftStream reaches the bottom of the East Laurel Avenue bridge. Water may reach the outdoor pavilion floor at the Baptist church near this bridge. (This is estimated due to Helene's alteration of and debris depost in the stream bed at this point.)
13.0 ftSome structures downstream from E Laurel Ave bridge are impacted.
13.5 ftWater reaches the bottom of the Mountain City Road (Hwy 91) bridge. Water may be impacting structures on the left bank downstream from the Vails Mill Road bridge. Flooding of the Bicycle Junction parking lot begins.
14.0 ftWater might begin penetrating the Baptist church basement level at East Laurel Avenue, perhaps through the windows on the stream side. (This is estimated due to Helene's alteration of and debris depost in the stream bed at this point.)
14.5 ftFlooding of low spots on Cornett Road. Some structures along Railroad Ave may be impacted.
16.0 ftWater reaches the surface of the Mountain City Road (Hwy 91) bridge.
16.5 ftWater tops onto the East Laurel Avenue bridge. (This is estimated due to Helene's alteration of and debris depost in the stream bed at this point.)
17.5 ftWater reaches the bottom of the lowest portion of Vails Mill Road bridge, and threatens the left bank cabins immediately upstream.
17.8 ftEast Laurel Avenue bridge is topped, and water flows through downtown across much of Laurel Avenue. Portions of North Beaver Dam Road (Hwy 58) along the creek are inundated. Portions of Cornett Road are inundated. Near Laurel Community Church, nearby basements are flooded, and across the stream Cornett Road has 3 feet of water and a horse barn has a foot of water.
17.9 ftThe Old Mill Dam where the stream leaves downtown is about 7 feet above the downstream streambed, helping to spread such an extreme event's flood water across the flat downtown flood plain. Helene's flood watermark at the post office (which took 2 feet of water) on N Reynolds St was only 6.5 feet above a normal pond level, while water a block upstream on N Shady Ave at the funeral home (street flooding but avoided water intrusion) was 9.5 feet above normal stream level.
18.0 ftHelene crest roughly reached this stage at the initial gage location on Orchard Hill Road bridge (which washed away). That road is perpendicular to the stream and is built up a couple of feet, acting as a mini dam slightly enhancing the flooding immediately upstream. The Bicycle Junction building has 3 to 4 feet of water, and Hwy 58 at that spot is flooded.

Forecast office: NWS Morristown · River Forecast Center: Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.

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