UPDATE: Terry Whitehead, interim clerk/treasurer for the Town of Windsor, said that as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, their Fourth of July celebration is still on. She said that they are expecting the storm to have passed by 5 p.m. Friday, when their Fourth of July festivities will start. If for some reason it is not clear, they will move it to Sunday.

UPDATE: Franklin City Manager Randy Martin said as if 4:45 p.m. he is not projecting any issues from this storm system. He has not heard any reports of potential flooding. With the winds gusts only up to 35 MPH, Franklin should be fine. He said there is potential for trees to fall into power lines, but that the city’s power and light department would be ready for that.

UPDATE: Matt Scalora with the National Weather Service office in Wakefield said Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. that nothing major had changed. The storm is projected to be at hurricane force by the time it is in the area, but that it would be off the coast as it travels north. Early Friday morning, the Western Tidewater area could get winds up to 30 MPH, but the main threat would be rain, he said. The NWS is still projecting 1-3 inches, which could start Thursday evening. The system is expected to be clear of the area by Friday afternoon.

 

FRANKLIN—Arthur, the first tropical storm of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season formed on Tuesday and could affect Virginia by Thursday evening, said John Billet, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wakefield.

The storm is projected to arrive sometime Thursday night, but the rains could get started in the afternoon, Billet said. It should rain during the night and into Friday morning, but he also said the system should be out of the area by Friday afternoon.

“The sun should come out, and it should be a good weekend,” Billet said.

Rainfall is projected to be 1-3 inches across the area. Billet said there could be strong winds along the immediate coast area, but that as of now, none of that is projected to hit the Western Tidewater area.

With the first named storm of the season being formed, it’s also time to consider preparing if you have not done so already. A little preparation can make a big difference when it comes to safety and security, said Anna Bryant, a public affairs specialist with State Farm.

• Review your insurance coverage: Make sure you have the right amount and type of insurance.
• Create a home inventory: Make a list of your possessions and their estimated value. State Farm Home Index allows you to create your home inventory, upload photos and access everything from the Internet (no need to worry about it getting destroyed during a storm). The Home Index tool is free to everyone.
• Protect your property: Stock plywood and materials you may need to board up windows. Move garbage cans and other large objects inside the house or garage. Secure boats and cars.
• Have an evacuation plan: Before the hurricane, decide what you will do. Find out the location of evacuation shelters. Determine if you will ride out the storm in your home (if local authorities permit you to stay), or establish a safe place inland. Plan an escape route. Tell relatives where you will be.
• Put together an emergency kit: The kit should include basics such as water, food, first aid supplies, clothing, blankets and important documents. Store your kit in airtight plastic bags or a plastic storage container with a lid. An interactive graphic about your emergency kit can be found here: http://st8.fm/DisasterKit.
• If you lose power: Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. Use gas-powered generators only in well-ventilated areas. Connect only individual appliances to portable generators. Don’t plug emergency generators into electric outlets or hook them directly to your home’s electrical system. They can feed electricity back into the power lines, putting you and line workers in danger.