NORFOLK – Norfolk prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. Pretty much, it got the best that Earl ofference – some rain but no real flooding.
At Palace Shops in Ghent, owners were nervous to see what they'd find in the flood-prone area on Friday morning.
"I was very, very happy that the storm stayed away from Norfolk. That was just a great relief," said Claus Ihlemann.
Paulette Briley boarded up her Morgan House Antiques on 21 Street – just in case.
Five Guys Restaurant is set to open in about a week and hoped the storm wouldn't delay things.
"We did put an emergency contact list together. We threw out some sandbags in case of flooding," said district manager Rhonda Hess.
Ihlemann said he wanted to make sure Earl was all the way up the coast before sandbags were removed.
The City of Norfolk closed its five downtown flood gates Thursday night in anticipation of Earl's effects. Spokesman Bob Batcher says they're now open.
