VB residents worry after flood alerts

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The City of Virginia Beach sent out a notice Tuesday night saying it was monitoring the developing coastal storm. 

Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management for Virginia Beach, Mark Marchbank, says they were keeping an eye on low lying areas in case the expected storm brought flooding overnight. The notice sent out by the city says properties lower than four feet above sea level could see flooding. 

Those areas include: Bay Colony, Bay Island, Birdneck, Lynnhaven Colony, Ocean Park and Thalia.

WAVY.com took several calls Tuesday night from concerned residents that live in the neighborhoods mentioned. Many viewers say they received automated phone calls to be aware of flooding. Residents told WAVY.com they were worried the storm was supposed to be worse than they expected.

Marchbank tells WAVY.com the phone calls are part of standard procedure. He says the messages are sent out as part of the 311 Virginia Beach alert system and are part of the city's effort to share weather information with residents.

Marckbanks says the Department of Emergency Management will go back and analyze their procedures, as they do after every storm.

Emergency preparedness information for Virginia Beach is available on the city's website at:  www.VBgov.com/beprepared