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Radford officials report extensive flood damage, outline recovery steps for parks and animal shelter
Summary
City officials told the Radford City Council that recent flooding damaged parks, playgrounds and the animal shelter; the city is coordinating with FEMA, neighboring counties and volunteers while repairs, sanitation and temporary animal housing continue.
At a Radford City Council meeting, city staff and council members described widespread flood damage across parks and municipal facilities and outlined immediate recovery steps.
David, speaking for city operations, said nearly nine miles of river frontage were affected and the New River rose to nearly 32 feet, close to the 35-foot record set in 1940. He listed substantial damage to Sparky's Run and the River Sports Complex, bathrooms at Riverview Park, and a playground at Shelter 2, saying many of those assets are "almost all total losses and have got to be submitted for replacement." He added the city is coordinating damage assessments with Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management and FEMA to determine replacement needs.
Staff said sanitation and cleaning of park facilities has been completed in some locations and electricians were finishing work to restore the animal shelter’s intake and dog runs so the facility can return to operation. City staff told the council the shelter is accepting animals and that Montgomery and Pulaski counties were being used for overflow when the shelter reached capacity. "We are accepting animals," a staff member said, and noted the city also has some in-house crates for temporary housing.
Council members praised the response of first responders, parks staff, volunteers and nearby jurisdictions. One council member thanked volunteers and students who helped with cleanup efforts, and noted local adoptions increased during the recovery effort. Officials emphasized that some repair costs and timelines are uncertain, and that price increases since earlier years have raised replacement estimates.
The council was told that several park trails, boat ramps and portions of Shelter 1 were already reopened or nearing reopening, while some facilities will require full replacement. Officials said FEMA submissions and other grant or insurance processes are ongoing and that reconstruction work and reporting will continue for an extended period.
Next steps include completing FEMA and state submittals, finalizing cost estimates, and continuing coordination with neighboring counties for animal shelter capacity and volunteer support. The council did not set a timeline for full restoration but said repairs and replacements would proceed as funding and approvals allow.
