At approximately 8:45 a.m. on May 14, search and rescue crews found the body of a 12-year-old Albemarle boy who was swept away by rushing floodwaters the prior evening, according to an Albemarle County Fire Rescue release.
He is “believed to be” the missing 12-year-old Jordan Sims, according to the release.
The search efforts were conducted by the Albemarle County Police Department, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Lynchburg Fire Department and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The body was found in the Newton Rd. area in Greenwood and will be transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for identification.
“This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our hearts are with the Sims’ family and loved ones,” said Albemarle County Fire Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston in the release. “We are incredibly grateful to our local and regional partners who supported this search effort with urgency, professionalism, and care.”
According to a previous news release, around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, Albemarle County Fire Rescue career and volunteer units and Albemarle County Police Department officers were dispatched for a water rescue to the area of Newtown Rd. and Valley Green Dr., near Pollack Vineyards.
A 911 caller said that Sims was walking outside when he was taken by the water that flooded the road from the nearby creek.
After searching for more than three hours, first responders paused the search for the night due to visibility limitations and resumed during the daylight hours on May 14.
So far, Sims appears to be the only victim of the floods.
According to Jeremy Geiger, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, central Virginia should expect more rain today.
“It looks like the flooding, the water levels on streams and creeks are starting to drop off. We do expect some further street streams due to showers and thunderstorms to build over that part of the area later on, this morning and into afternoon,” he said on a call the morning of May 14. “The peak periods are probably between 2 and 7 [p.m.], but it does look like we have some showers already moving into Nelson County.”
He said the main threats are thunderstorms, gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and possibly large hail, the size of a quarter.
“If you happen to see any kind of elevated water levels or water sitting on the roads, it’s safer to avoid them in terms of driving and walking, because you never know how deep the flood waters could be,” Geiger said.
Take Action
Residents can take several steps to stay safe during flooding, according to the Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Office of Regional Emergency Management, including listening for emergency alerts and being familiar with evacuation routes. The National Weather Service also advises avoiding floodwaters on foot or in vehicles, as water can often be deeper than it appears, and obeying all road closure and cautionary signs.
