Flooding has wreaked havoc across several areas of Tortola, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, leaving residents unable to leave their homes and local authorities grappling with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Philippe.
The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) reports that overnight rainfall reached a staggering 3-4 inches. As a result, many residents found themselves trapped in their homes due to floodwaters, land slippage and debris blocking the roads.
Low-lying areas such as Road Town and its environs appear to have bore the brunt of Wednesday’s flooding, with waters several feet deep in some areas.
The high levels of rainfall also triggered land slippage in several areas, including Sea Cows Bay and Great Mountain, exacerbating roadway blockages on island.
Land slippage in Sea Cows Bay 
Land slippage in Great Mountain
Reports have also reached out newsroom of significant road damage in Brewers Bay.
In the midst active response to the early morning crisis, the Department of Disaster Management is urging residents to exercise extreme caution. They strongly advise against navigating floodwaters, especially in hilly terrain.
The DDM has issued a stern warning, “Persons are advised to stay off the roads and stay home today unless it is an emergency.”
The DDM anticipates that over the next 24 hours, lingering moisture and instability from Tropical Storm Phillipe will maintain a heightened chance for shower and thunderstorm activity over and around the islands.
A flash flood warning remains in effect for the Virgin Islands until 4 pm today. A flash flood warning means that moderate to major flooding is occurring or imminent in the warning area.