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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 4, 1992                   TAG: 9201040265
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MONICA DAVEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED

Flood warnings were issued across Southwest Virginia Friday night as steady rain fell - and wasn't expected to let up until late this morning.

The National Weather Service flood warnings were in effect through the night for the counties of Roanoke, Craig, Botetourt, Montgomery, Floyd, Franklin and Henry and the cities of Roanoke and Salem. Other counties were under a flash flood watch.

Late Friday, high waters were threatening Salem and Montgomery County homes and making some bridges and roadways treacherous to cross.

Small streams and creeks throughout Southwest Virginia were coming out of their banks, officials reported. The Roanoke River was a more serious threat.

It was rising rapidly Friday night and National Weather Service officials said it would likely leave its banks before cresting this morning. The river was expected to crest at 12 feet, 2 feet above flood stage.

At Riverland Mobile Home Court on Riverside Drive in Salem, residents were advised about rising waters Friday evening.

In parts of Montgomery County, some homes were also being threatened by rising waters.

Elliston fire chief M.L. Wells reported that sections of U.S. 460 and North Fork Road near Ironto were under more than a foot of water. No Montgomery homes had been evacuated as of 11 p.m., but water had seeped up to the fronts of homes in the Riverview Mobile Home Park in Lafayette, Wells said.

At 11 p.m., National Weather Service officials said 1.76 inches of rain had fallen in Roanoke since the storm began Friday morning.

Staff writer Kathy Loan contributed to this story.

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