"Glenn and Jennifer Moore’s autobody shop had been spared from floodwater for decades. Over the years, they’ve watched water from Lieutenant Run Creek in Petersburg, VA, inch ever closer to their shop whenever there’s a severe storm. But in July, they stood in water inside their office.

'It’s just getting worse and worse,' Jennifer Moore said.

Petersburg experienced severe flooding in July from two 100-year storms in the same week. As increasingly strong storms flood communities across Virginia, the waterfront city of Petersburg has experienced continuing problems from the Appomattox River and its tributaries.

The city had flash flood warnings, a power outage and more than 20 road closures for that week in July. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the city received up to eight inches of rain on July 15 alone. No one was injured, but businesses next to the Appomattox River and its streams were damaged.

'We are a very old city, and we’ve always had challenges with drainage and with flooding issues, but nothing like we’ve seen over the last week or so,' said Mayor Samuel Parham at a press conference on July 15.

Staff from the Gale Welding & Machine Company said July was the fourth time their business flooded in the last 15 years. The water came in the middle of the night and ruined equipment. But they still opened the next day.

The Appomattox River, which flows into the James River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, is grappling with a notable buildup of sediment. And that’s contributing to the problem. According to the 2024 U.S. Geological Survey Nutrient Load report, the river has seen a 39% increase in sediment since 2015, which is the largest percentage of increase compared to other waterways feeding the Bay. . ."