UPDATE: 10:45 a.m.: Authorities on the scene of a search for two missing motorists swept away in a swollen Ivy Creek last night say they have located the body of one motorist and continue to search for the other.
The body was found near Ivy Drive in Ivy Creek, law enforcement officials on the scene said.
The discovery has not been officially confirmed by fire and rescue officials.
“We don't have a lot of information related to the missing persons at this point. Out of respect for the family, we'll probably withhold that,” Albemarle County Fire and Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston at a morning press conference.
Two vehicles, including a silver Toyota Prius with two occupants, were washed into the raging torrent of the rain-swollen creek last night around 9:30 p.m. as nearly 10 inches of rain in the area pushed the creek over its banks and over roads.
The driver of the other vehicle was rescued.
"Ivy Creek is normally a very docile creek, but with eight to 10 inches of rain, we estimated .... that it turned into a swollen, raging river. It just tossed and turned those vehicles,” Eggleston said.
Eggleston said there were at least 10 water rescue service calls last night, around the Ivy and U.S. 29 North area near the Rivanna River.
“Heavy rain starting yesterday afternoon caused a huge amount of public safety calls for service, including water rescue calls, which overwhelmed our local and regional resources here in the Charlottesville and Albemarle area,” Eggleston said at the conference.
Water rescue crews from Lynchburg supported local operations. That crew was activated after county officials declared a state of emergency.
With more rain expected this evening, Eggleston said county crews are getting ready for more trouble.
“We're preparing for a repeat of last night, but I hope not,” he said. “Any additional rain will just make it swell again. That's why we're trying to plan ahead.”
In Madison County, the county sheriff's department and Virginia State Police continue searching for a county woman who is missing after flood waters washed her away.
According to Madison County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page, the call came in at about 8:30 p.m. Swift water rescue teams and other agencies responded and searched overnight from Graves Mountain Lodge to the bridge at North Blue Ridge Turnpike and West Hoover Road.
UPDATE: 8:57 a.m.:
Charlottesville's Riverview Park and the Riverview trail have been closed because of rising flood waters and a concern for public safety, officials say.
The trail has been closed at East High Street, near Cosner’s Body Shop. Both the park and trail will be evaluated for reopening once flood waters have crested and receded.
UPDATE: 8:53 a.m.:
Most of Charlottesville's Azalea Park is closed due to flood damage from last night's rains, city parks and recreation officials say.
Doug Ehman, with the parks department said the park "received considerable damage from flooding and requires significant repair and cleanup."
"The only portion of Azalea Park available is the front commuter lot and the basketball court," he said in a release. "All other areas including restrooms, playground, dog park and garden plots are closed and off limits until mud and debris can be removed and repairs made. "
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An estimated five to 10 inches of rain last night flooded roadways, busted water mains and swept a car off a road and into Ivy Creek.
Around 9:30 p.m., rain-swollen Ivy Creek rose above Old Ballard Road near Martin Farm Lane and took into its torrent a silver Toyota Prius with two people inside as well as another vehicle.
The driver of the other vehicle was rescued, but the search continues this morning for the Prius and its occupants.
Around 2 a.m. this morning, a swift water rescue team from the Lynchburg Fire Department arrived to work with local emergency crews in looking for the car and occupants.
Residents in the area with any information on the missing subjects should contact the local Emergency Operations Center at (434) 979-4636.
The torrential rains began Wednesday afternoon and intensified during the evening. Albemarle County declared a local emergency at 11:45 p.m. as the deluge turned bucolic creeks and rivers into rapids and cataracts.
The National Weather Service is estimating between seven and 10 inches of rain fell in the western areas of Central Virginia along the Blue Ridge Mountains, hitting the Crozet and Ivy areas especially hard. Also receiving more than five inches of rain were Charlottesville, Free Union, Hollymead, North Garden, Boonesville, Carrsbrook and White Hall,
The weather service reported serious flooding and rainfall all across Greene County and Madison County as well.
Flood waters took out a water main near the South Fork Rivanna River, interrupting water service for the Forest Lakes and Hollymead areas.
Crews are on site for repairs to the water line at the South Fork Rivanna River crossing. Customers may experience water pressure and/or water outage issues. At this time there are no water quality concerns.
Damage to roads and streets and standing water across roads led Albemarle County school officials to cancel classes for the day.
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is monitoring local reservoirs and no risk to these dams has been identified.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is reporting closures on about 16 roads.
“U.S. 33 over Swift Run Gap is closed in Greene and Rockingham counties due to mudslides on the mountain pass after torrential downpours drenched the area all night,” said Lou Hatter, VDOT spokesman. “Crews are working to clear the slides and reopen the road, but it is likely there will be a lengthy closure.”
Hatter said numerous roads are closed in Greene, Madison and Albemarle counties. Road will be reopened as flood waters recede and the roads are inspected to be sure they are safe for travel.