No injuries, major damage in Isle of Wight

Published 8:58 pm Saturday, August 27, 2011

ISLE OF WIGHT—Isle of Wight officials reported no injuries, accidents or major damage related to Hurricane Irene as of Saturday evening.

As of 7 p.m., the hurricane was 35 miles southeast of Norfolk and moving north-northeast at 16 miles per hour.

Isle of Wight County Spokesman Don Robertson said Route 460, which was closed earlier Saturday due to a downed tree, had reopened. Business Route 58 near the Suffolk line was closed due to a downed tree, while the James River Bridge was closed due to flooding on the Isle of Wight side.

There were also reports of siding being ripped of homes in the county, but no reports of damage, Robertson said.

“We feel confident we’re going to come through this in pretty good shape,” he said.

Robertson reported that as many as 41 people had taken shelter from the storm at Windsor High School and 57 at Smithfield Middle School.