Hanna blows over Culpeper

By Nate Delesline III

Published: September 6, 2008

Despite preparing for the worst, Tropical Storm Hanna blew through the Culpeper area Saturday, leaving no serious problems in her wake, local officials said this afternoon.

The rain began early Saturday morning and continued steadily until about 2 p.m., when the skies cleared and the winds picked up, gusting to about 25 mph.

“We’ve been out all day, and it looks like everything went well for us,” said Tom Williams, director of the county’s Emergency Services Department.

Up to seven inches of rain and winds gusting to 45 mph had been forecast for Culpeper.

Rainfall amounts in the region varied widely, with nearly eight inches recorded in Fairfax County, nearly four inches in Charlottesville, and almost an inch and a half in Waynesboro.

In Prince William County, a report of a water rescue surfaced. However, county officials said Saturday afternoon that they knew nothing of anyone being rescued from rising waters.

The heaviest rains had fallen from Stafford north through the western suburbs of Washington into Montgomery County, Md., by 3 p.m., according to the weather service.

In the Culpeper area, Williams said the only incident that had been brought to his attention by mid-afternoon Saturday was water over a roadway in the Rapidan area.

Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or .