The effects of Hurricane Irene could be felt as far inland as Lynchburg, Va., according to GoDanRiver.com. Heavy rains and winds could strike Hill City in central Virginia as soon as this weekend.
So far, local residents seem unmoved by the potential storm.
“We’re pretty far from the coast,” said Lynchburg College student Austin Meier, 20. “I don’t think we’re at any risk.”
That opinion seems to be the same with other area residents as well. The city is surrounded by the seven hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is often a place where accurate weather predictions are impossible.
Clara Rhodes, 81, of Madison Heights said she has no worry either.
“At my age, I’m not out much anyway,” she said. “I’ll just buy a few extra groceries on Friday and hope for the best.”
Rhodes said her grandson usually helps her with grocery shopping and frequently checks on her during severe weather.
“I’ll be just fine,” she added.
Monroe homemaker Patricia Wixson, 61, said she would just stock up on groceries and extra batteries to keep at her residence. She said she lives 12 miles up Bear Mountain in a somewhat rural setting.
“We have a generator, because we lose power a lot in storms,” she said. “But I don’t think it will be bad this far up (the mountain).”
A spokesman for the Madison Heights location of Food Lion who declined to be identified said the store has not seen a surge of shoppers yet.
“We’re stocked like normal,” he said. “I don’t see any mad rush to the store.”
If Hurricane Irene hits inland, weather forecasters predict sustained heavy rains and mild to high winds that could damage power lines and roofs. They recommend residents have a two or three day supply of bottled drinking water, sufficient batteries for flashlights and extra food on hand. They also recommend keeping cell phones completely charged for emergency calls.
Meier said he has no plans to stay around for the weekend regardless of the weather forecast.
“We’re going on a float trip,” he said. “I don’t really see any major storm hitting this area at all.”
Retired state worker Bianca Withersby, 74, of Madison Heights said she is always ready for bad weather.
“I keep lots of canned goods and candles handy,” she said. “You just never know when something bad will hit and you got to be prepared.”
Withersby said her biggest concern was protecting her car, which is parked under an aluminum-topped parking shelter in her backyard.
“If we get some high winds, that aluminum roof is just going to blow right off,” she said. “My car would be hit for sure.”
Local television news reports have recommended residents prepare for high winds and sudden, prolonged rain. While experts have not cited specific wind speeds to expect, the impact from a hurricane can be unpredictable – even far inland.
Delivery driver Avery Washington, 52, of Concord said he thinks the area will be hit by a little rain only.
“I’ve never seen much damage from a hurricane over here,” he said. “We had some rain on the last one a few years back, but nothing that damaged anything.”
Withersby said she might make one more trip to the grocery store – but not to buy food.
“I need to stock up on some cigarettes,” she said. “I can do without power, but I need my smokes.”
Hill City residents appear to be focused more on yesterday’s earthquake than the impending effects of Hurricane Irene hitting the area. With luck, their lack of concern will be well-placed.