Weekend weather wild on the Peninsula

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - Residents across the Peninsula were hoping to clean up Sunday after heavy rain flooded streets and apartments Saturday. But it just wasn't possible.

Another line of storms moved through the area Sunday afternoon, dropping around three inches of rain. Meanwhile, evacuees realized they would not have access to their apartments until Monday.

The City Line and Great Oak apartment complexes in Newport News took the brunt of the storm. Dozens of units are condemned indefinitely, due to power outages and flooding. For that reason, many have not had a chance to assess the damage.

"It was up past my knees," said Kristy Cushion, who lives at Great Oak. "All the pine needles, cones, sticks are in my apartment."

Photos: Peninsula flooding

Some of her neighbors escaped their homes on a fire and rescue raft Saturday. Barriers at the front entrance read "No Trespassing" Sunday evening.

"She's got her prescriptions in there," said a woman, trying to help her mother retrieve her belongings. "She was in such a hurry to leave that she forgot them and can't get back in to get them."

At City Line, the water still had not receded as of Sunday night. Power was restored to some units, but only residents living on the second floor were allowed back inside their apartments.

The storm even stopped traffic on Main Street for a day. A railroad underpass filled up with 12 feet of water Saturday morning and cleared during the day Sunday. Two cars were trapped in the water, but have since been towed away.

"I'm sure there's going to be a lot of things that will have to be thrown out," said one woman. "Absolutely."

Newport News officials have opened an emergency shelter at Warwick High School for the evacuees. It will stay open until Monday at 5 p.m. City officials say 30 people slept at the shelter Sunday night.

Storm drains in Hampton and Newport News were clear and working properly, but just couldn't keep up with the heavy rainfall.