Ophelia could slam Delmarva with flooding

Delaware officials and first responders are urging locals and tourists to be prepared for street flooding and power outages on Sept. 23.

Transcript

00:00 As the wind picks up and the surf crashes

00:02 along the Delaware coastline,

00:04 I just had to have one beach fix

00:07 before I nestled in for the winter.

00:09 First responders are urging local

00:11 families and tourists to stay away

00:13 from flooding and off the beaches.

00:15 The rip currents are going to be terrible.

00:18 The undertow is going to be terrible,

00:20 more than likely on high tide.

00:22 The water is going to be up past the

00:25 dunes. Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire

00:26 Company has their trucks, boats,

00:28 and high water vehicle ready to go.

00:30 Do not drive through flooded streets.

00:32 Go around, find another way.

00:34 It's not worth your life.

00:35 You know it. It may look shallow,

00:38 but it's deeper than what you think.

00:40 Delaware and the Army Corps of Engineers

00:43 spent more than $20 million this summer,

00:45 hauling in tons of sand to try

00:47 and restore these beaches.

00:49 Hurricane Lee washed away some of that

00:51 work when it passed north far offshore.

00:54 Officials fear this storm could

00:55 cause even more damage.

00:57 It's going to be a very rough surf.

00:59 It's probably the roughest

01:01 surf we've seen in awhile.

01:02 Second, remember is after it's post Labor Day.

01:05 There are no lifeguards on the beaches,

01:07 so people are taking even a bigger

01:09 risk into their own hands when they do

01:11 that. So stay out of the water.

01:13 A warning to respect the power

01:15 of the waves and the wind.

01:17 Delaware's coastline is always changing.

01:19 For Accuweather, I'm the Wado.

01:20 [BLANK_AUDIO]