Business
(VIDEO) Norfolk Business Owner Rides Jet Ski Through Flooded Streets After Historic Virginia Storm
NORFOLK, Va. — A local business owner turned a flooded Norfolk intersection into an impromptu waterway Tuesday, riding his jet ski through several feet of standing water after flash flooding from severe thunderstorms submerged one of the city’s busiest roads, in scenes that quickly spread across social media.
The flooding struck the intersection of Monticello Avenue and Princess Anne Road, where floodwaters reached three to four feet deep in some areas, stranding drivers and turning the roadway impassable by car. Video of the scene showed Joe Scearce, owner of Joe’s Tires and Rims, navigating the flooded intersection on his personal watercraft as stunned onlookers watched from higher ground.
A Storm That Overwhelmed the Region
The flooding was part of a broader wave of severe weather that hit Virginia’s Hampton Roads region beginning Tuesday afternoon. The National Weather Service office in Wakefield issued a flash flood warning covering Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, warning that thunderstorms were producing heavy rain across the area, with between 1 and 3 inches already recorded and rainfall rates of 1.5 to 2 inches per hour expected to continue. Additional rainfall of 1 to 2 inches was forecast on top of those totals, with the weather service cautioning that flash flooding of small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways and low-lying areas was either already underway or expected to begin shortly.
Extreme flooding was reported across multiple parts of Hampton Roads Tuesday afternoon into the evening, according to local station WAVY, with officials warning that floodwater depths could be deceiving and urging drivers who encountered a flooded road to turn around rather than attempt to pass through.
A Spontaneous Decision
Scearce, whose tire shop sits near the flooded intersection, described the moment he decided to grab his jet ski rather than wait out the storm from dry ground. Speaking with local station WAVY, Scearce recalled turning to his friends and colleagues as the water continued to rise, telling them the situation was becoming serious enough that he needed to act. He said he told the group it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he had to take advantage of, prompting him to head back, remove his socks and shoes, and announce that he was going to put his jet skis into the water on Monticello Avenue. According to Scearce, his friends initially responded with disbelief, saying “no way,” before he insisted he was serious and followed through.
Scearce later told 13News Now that people around him had been warning him throughout the afternoon that conditions were getting increasingly serious, repeating that the flooding was becoming a genuine concern well before he made the decision to take his watercraft onto the submerged roadway.
Business Disrupted, but Doors Stayed Open
Despite the dramatic flooding and resulting damage to equipment at his shop, Scearce said Joe’s Tires and Rims remained busy with customers seeking tire service even as the surrounding area dealt with the aftermath of the storm. Scearce described the rainfall as among the most significant Norfolk has experienced in decades, underscoring just how unusual Tuesday’s storm was compared with the region’s typical summer weather patterns.
A Region Prone to Flooding
Tuesday’s flash flooding adds to a long history of flooding challenges facing Norfolk and the broader Hampton Roads region, an area particularly vulnerable to both tidal flooding and flash flooding from heavy rainfall given its low-lying coastal geography. The region has weathered numerous flooding events tied to hurricanes and tropical systems in recent years, including significant flooding during Hurricane Dorian in 2019, when storm surge and heavy rain led to widespread road closures and prompted the opening of emergency shelters across the area.
More recently, tidal flooding tied to Hurricane Erin disrupted trash and recycling collection across Norfolk last August, forcing the city to reschedule pickups after floodwaters made streets impassable for collection crews. Areas of neighboring Virginia Beach have also experienced unusually severe tidal flooding in recent years, with residents in some cases describing flooding at intersections they had never previously seen underwater, even after decades of living in the area.
Cleanup Efforts Underway
By Wednesday, crews were working to clean up and assess damage from Tuesday’s storm, with the intersection of Monticello Avenue and Princess Anne Road beginning to dry out after standing underwater for an extended period. City crews and local officials continued surveying the broader impact of the flash flooding across Hampton Roads, a process local outlets indicated was ongoing as the region worked to return to normal following the storm.
A Moment That Captured Wide Attention
Video of Scearce’s jet ski ride through the flooded intersection spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing attention from national outlets and social media accounts covering breaking news, including widely shared posts highlighting the unusual scene of a personal watercraft navigating what is normally a busy roadway intersection. The footage captured widespread public fascination, offering both a moment of levity amid the storm’s disruption and a striking visual illustration of just how severe Tuesday’s flash flooding became in parts of the city.
A Reminder of Flash Flood Dangers
While Scearce’s jet ski ride generated viral attention, weather officials continued to emphasize the serious risks posed by flash flooding events like Tuesday’s storm, reiterating standard safety guidance that drivers should never attempt to drive through flooded roadways given how difficult it can be to accurately judge water depth and the strength of any underlying current. The National Weather Service’s warning language specifically cited flash flooding as a hazard affecting not just small creeks and streams but also highways, streets, underpasses and other areas prone to poor drainage, a category that clearly included the Monticello Avenue and Princess Anne Road intersection where Tuesday’s most dramatic flooding occurred.
With cleanup efforts continuing into Wednesday and beyond, residents across Hampton Roads are likely to remain attentive to further storm forecasts given the region’s persistent vulnerability to both flash flooding from heavy rainfall and tidal flooding tied to coastal storm systems. For Scearce and his tire shop, business appeared to continue largely uninterrupted despite the storm’s disruption, even as Tuesday’s flooding left a lasting, widely shared image of one Norfolk business owner’s unconventional response to rising water in his own front yard.
Lanxess falls 3% as weak Q3 outlook overshadows Q2 EBITDA beat
Yes. Corporate subscriptions are available for teams and organisations, with discounted rates as user numbers increase. Pricing starts from $1,625 + GST per user.
Get in touch
to discuss the right option for your organisation.
Business News subscriptions are used by executives, investors, consultants and professionals who need to stay informed and make better decisions about the WA market. When you subscribe you’ll get
- Unlimited access to WA’s most trusted business journalism
- Data & Insights — detailed profiles of WA companies, people, projects and deals
- MyBN — a personalised feed based on the companies, people and sectors you follow
- Special publications and industry reports
- Daily and weekly email newsletters
Data & Insights is a research tool built specifically for the WA market. It draws on more than 30 years of Business News reporting, updated regularly to reflect what’s happening now. Use it to:
- Look up detailed profiles of WA companies, including financials, directors and ownership
- Find decision-makers and track their career movements
- Research live and completed projects across WA industries
- Monitor deals, appointments and market activity
- Access industry rankings and league tables
Data & Insights is updated daily by our dedicated research team, which uses the latest announcements, ASX filings and editorial coverage to keep our person, company, list and project records up to date.
Business News welcome all opportunities to make our dataset accurate, complete and current, so if you have an update request, please email the team at
general@businessnews.com.au, and we’d be happy to assist.
MyBN
is part of every subscription. It’s your personalised view of Business News. You can follow the companies, people, sectors and projects that matter to you, and get a news feed and alerts tailored to your interests. You can save articles to read later and retain only what you need.
Only subscribers have full access to all content on the Business News website.
If staying informed about the WA economy is part of your job, and/or you’re looking for networking opportunities in WA, Business News is built for you.
Business News subscribers are:
- Executives and directors tracking competitors, clients and market movements
- Investors and advisers researching companies, deals and industry trends
- Consultants and professionals staying across sectors relevant to their clients
- Business owners looking for leads, context and market intelligence
Most Business News publications cover national or global markets. Business News is focused entirely on Western Australia, which means the journalism, the data and the intelligence are all built around WA companies, people and projects — not adapted from a national feed. Data & Insights, included with every subscription, combines more than 30 years of WA-specific editorial research with live business data. There’s no comparable product for the WA market.
The Morning Digest Email provides a comprehensive wrap of the major headlines, relevant to WA business, and includes with a snapshot of the overnight news covering oil, gold and ASX-listed companies.
The Afternoon Wrap Email focuses on the news covered by our team of journalists during the course of the working day, including exclusive stories and analysis, all of which relates to WA business and the local economy.
The BN Weekender Email contains a wrap of the Business News from the week that was, highlighting the top stories in each area of WA business.
Sign up for free.
We’re happy to help.
Get in touch
and our team will come back to you.
Yes. Corporate subscriptions are available for teams and organisations, with discounted rates as user numbers increase. Pricing starts from $1,625 + GST per user.
Get in touch
to discuss the right option for your organisation.
Business News subscriptions are used by executives, investors, consultants and professionals who need to stay informed and make better decisions about the WA market. When you subscribe you’ll get
- Unlimited access to WA’s most trusted business journalism
- Data & Insights — detailed profiles of WA companies, people, projects and deals
- MyBN — a personalised feed based on the companies, people and sectors you follow
- Special publications and industry reports
- Daily and weekly email newsletters
Data & Insights is a research tool built specifically for the WA market. It draws on more than 30 years of Business News reporting, updated regularly to reflect what’s happening now. Use it to:
- Look up detailed profiles of WA companies, including financials, directors and ownership
- Find decision-makers and track their career movements
- Research live and completed projects across WA industries
- Monitor deals, appointments and market activity
- Access industry rankings and league tables
Data & Insights is updated daily by our dedicated research team, which uses the latest announcements, ASX filings and editorial coverage to keep our person, company, list and project records up to date.
Business News welcome all opportunities to make our dataset accurate, complete and current, so if you have an update request, please email the team at
general@businessnews.com.au, and we’d be happy to assist.
MyBN
is part of every subscription. It’s your personalised view of Business News. You can follow the companies, people, sectors and projects that matter to you, and get a news feed and alerts tailored to your interests. You can save articles to read later and retain only what you need.
Only subscribers have full access to all content on the Business News website.
If staying informed about the WA economy is part of your job, and/or you’re looking for networking opportunities in WA, Business News is built for you.
Business News subscribers are:
- Executives and directors tracking competitors, clients and market movements
- Investors and advisers researching companies, deals and industry trends
- Consultants and professionals staying across sectors relevant to their clients
- Business owners looking for leads, context and market intelligence
Most Business News publications cover national or global markets. Business News is focused entirely on Western Australia, which means the journalism, the data and the intelligence are all built around WA companies, people and projects — not adapted from a national feed. Data & Insights, included with every subscription, combines more than 30 years of WA-specific editorial research with live business data. There’s no comparable product for the WA market.
The Morning Digest Email provides a comprehensive wrap of the major headlines, relevant to WA business, and includes with a snapshot of the overnight news covering oil, gold and ASX-listed companies.
The Afternoon Wrap Email focuses on the news covered by our team of journalists during the course of the working day, including exclusive stories and analysis, all of which relates to WA business and the local economy.
The BN Weekender Email contains a wrap of the Business News from the week that was, highlighting the top stories in each area of WA business.
Sign up for free.
We’re happy to help.
Get in touch
and our team will come back to you.
Shares of Ronan, Mt.-based innovator AirJoule were aloft like vapor Wednesday as the company’s recent deal with GE Vernova worked through the stock market ether. The company develops products that harvest water from the air in order to cool AI data-center servers. AirJoule (AIRJ), a joint-venture partner with data center gas turbine supplier GE Vernova (GEV) since March 2024, has…
Copyright ©2026 Investor’s Business Daily, LLC. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Australia’s share market has taken a breather after multiple records, with equities in a holding pattern until the next major catalyst emerges.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 fell eight points on Friday, down 0.09 per cent to 9,263.6, after a five-day winning streak and all-time highs in the previous two sessions.
The broader All Ordinaries eased by 6.9 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 9,445.1.
Energy stocks rose in line with oil prices after Iran and Oman’s plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while barring US and Israeli ships dashed hopes of an imminent peace deal.
“Iran feels it ‘holds the cards’ given it can still effectively block ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz (and to a degree the Red Sea) and all of America’s bombing can’t seem to shake the regime,” Betashares chief economist David Bassanese said.
“A deal between Iran and Oman would block US and Israeli ships crossing the Strait – but this must surely be an ambit claim as the US could never agree to that.”
However, raw materials stocks continued to rally as gold, lithium and rare earths miners soared on lower inflation expectations and upswings in underlying commodity prices.
Gold is trading at seven-week highs of $US4,297 ($A6,109) an ounce, after easing global inflation fears softened the US interest rate outlook, helping non-yielding assets rebound.
Shares in Australia’s largest company BHP gained 4.5 per cent since Monday to trade at $62.97, its heightened copper exposure paying off as AI-related demand for the base metal soars.
Financials continued their hot streak, trading near record highs and clocking gains in eight of the past nine weeks as the major banks recovered from a second quarter slump.
Consumer-facing stocks also improved in recent weeks, buoyed by softer-than-expected June inflation and resilient household spending.
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on the Reserve Bank’s Tuesday meeting for signs of Australia’s interest rate path ahead.
“The RBA will likely revise down their inflation forecast next week and hold rates unchanged, but don’t expect this to be the end of the hiking cycle,” AMP economist My Bui said.
The central bank would retain a hawkish bias, and AMP expected another rate hike in November if core inflation remained sticky, Ms Bui added.
In company news, Coles confirmed it will offshore hundreds of back office jobs in a multi-year deal with Accenture.
Earnings season continued to deliver a mixed bag, as James Hardie shares soaring on a strong first quarter update, Nick Scali dipped on a dim retail and supply chain outlook, while ResMed tumbled seven per cent after flagging “very modest” prices increases.
The Australian dollar is buying 70.33 US cents, down from 70.42 US cents on Thursday at 5pm.
ON THE ASX:
* The S&P/ASX200 fell by eight points, or 0.09 per cent, to 9,263.6
* The broader All Ordinaries lost 46.6 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 9,445.1
One Australian dollar trades for:
* 70.33 US cents, from 70.42 US cents at 5pm AEST on Thursday
* 111.37 Japanese yen, from 111.13 Japanese yen
* 61.04 euro cents, from 61.00 euro cents
* 52.28 British pence, from 52.32 pence
* 119.90 NZ cents, from 119.92 NZ cents
Kratos Defense rocketed higher Wednesday as the defense contractor and drone maker won an upgrade after clearing Q2 views. KTOS stock, a significant holding among ARK Invest’s ETFs, jumped back above its 50-day moving average. Kratos Defense (KTOS) reported a 91% increase in earnings to 21 cents per share adjusted, beating expectations for 14 cents per share. Revenue jumped 30.5%…
Copyright ©2026 Investor’s Business Daily, LLC. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Barclays cuts Onterris stock rating on weak results, guidance cut
Eli Lilly (LLY) stock charged into a buy zone Wednesday helped by “another exceptional quarter” that featured strength from its tirzepatide-based drugs for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. Mounjaro, the diabetes treatment that uses tirzepatide, brought in $9.94 billion in sales, more than $1 billion ahead of forecasts for $8.93 billion. Obesity treatment Zepbound generated $4.93 billion in sales,…
Copyright ©2026 Investor’s Business Daily, LLC. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
KeyBanc upgrades Quanta Services stock rating on execution strength
The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 430 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Revenue from operations grew 18% YoY to Rs 5,755 crore during the quarter. Compared with the March quarter, Trent’s consolidated net profit rose 25% from Rs 413 crore, while revenue from operations increased 14% from Rs 5,028 crore.
Buy, sell or hold Trent shares?
Morgan Stanley maintained its ‘Overweight’ rating on Trent and raised its target price to Rs 3,406 from Rs 3,151, implying an upside of around 10%.
The brokerage said Q1FY27 EBITDA margin came in well ahead of expectations, supported by year-on-year (YoY) gross margin expansion, while EBITDA growth remained strong despite higher depreciation weighing on profit before tax.
Morgan Stanley also reaffirmed its preference for the company-operated expansion model, raised its EBITDA margin assumptions following the strong quarterly performance, and flagged the Middle East conflict as a near-term risk to consumer sentiment.
Also read: Tata Sons faces continued listing uncertainty after RBI classification
Motilal Oswal maintained its ‘Buy’ rating on Trent with a target price of Rs 3,775, implying an upside of around 21%. The brokerage said the retailer continues to prioritise cluster-level revenue growth and expanding its market share across key micro-markets, rather than focusing on store-level like-for-like (LFL) growth.It noted that Trent remains focused on deepening Zudio’s penetration while accelerating store additions for Westside. Despite rising raw material costs and supply chain risks, the brokerage highlighted the company’s strong margin expansion during the quarter and said management expects supply chain initiatives, closer supplier engagement and calibrated pricing to help sustain margins.
Macquarie maintained its ‘Outperform’ rating on Trent with a target price of Rs 3,600, implying an upside of around 16%. The brokerage said the company delivered a strong Q1 earnings beat, reflecting healthy demand. It attributed the gross margin outperformance to the rising contribution of higher-margin Westside sales. Macquarie also said management’s clarification on FY27 store additions and its constructive commentary on demand reinforced its confidence in sales growth. It added that Trent has multiple levers to manage input cost pressures and sufficient lead time to implement changes, limiting the impact on margins.
Bernstein reiterated its ‘Outperform’ rating on Trent with a target price of Rs 3,500, implying an upside of around 13%. The brokerage said the company once again exceeded profitability expectations while continuing to execute on its growth strategy. It highlighted that Trent has delivered on its store addition plans, sustained growth and consistently improved margins. Bernstein believes the retailer can maintain steady-state growth of 18%-20%, although it remains cautious about near-term macroeconomic headwinds.
Read more: ET Exclusive: Tata Sons reported a 22% increase in annual profit for the year ended March 26
HSBC maintained its ‘Buy’ rating on Trent with a target price of Rs 3,390, implying an upside of around 12%. The brokerage said Q1 EBITDA exceeded its estimates by around 10%, driven by stronger gross margins, which it believes reflected the lagged benefit of lower raw material costs. It noted that the fashion business reported low single-digit like-for-like (LFL) growth, while management’s commentary was mixed but marginally more positive than in Q4FY26. HSBC added that a pickup in growth remains the key catalyst for the stock.
Jefferies remains bearish on Trent
Jefferies maintained its ‘Hold’ rating on Trent and raised its target price to Rs 3,435 from Rs 3,110, implying an upside of around 13%.
The brokerage said strong earnings growth in the first quarter was driven by margin expansion and continued store additions, particularly at Zudio. It noted that like-for-like growth remained in the low single digits, partly due to store densification. Jefferies added that management’s commentary remained cautious on near-term demand amid geopolitical uncertainty, which could push up commodity prices and affect both demand and supply chains, with the company already witnessing cost inflation.
Pirates’ postseason push in need of reset against Mets
How Tall Is Too Tall For A Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Coronation Street fans make Kit Green demand as they take sides in Gary Windass war
-
Fashion7 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Wit & Wisdom
-
Politics6 days agoMeta enters AI-training agreement with far-right ‘propaganda rag’ Newsmax
-
Politics5 days agoZack Polanski: an incitement to murder Nigel Farage?
-
Crypto World6 days agoMicroStrategy Post-Earnings CLARITY Act Push Could Add New Catalyst for Its Stock
-
Crypto World6 days agoXRP Ledger v3.3.0 brings five institutional features
-
Crypto World6 days agoNew York sues Kalshi over prediction market gambling
-
Crypto World5 days agoCrypto PAC spending tops $2M in Michigan House race
-
Business7 days agoTrump Announces Hamas Disarmament Agreement as Iran Strikes Kuwait Air Base and US Attacks Pause Overnight
-
Business4 days agoDTCR: Deleveraging And A Hedge Fund Collapse Point To A Possible AI Bottom
-
Tech5 days agoESET tracks rise in malicious AI skills and adaptable malware
-
Crypto World6 days ago3 Fed Officials Just Explained Their Rate Hike Vote: Is Inflation Winning?
-
Tech7 days agoGemini Spark can now use Chrome logins and saved passwords to run errands on your behalf
-
Tech7 days agoBuilding A Reproduction PlayStation Motherboard
-
Crypto World5 days ago
XRP Ledger urges node upgrade after manifest flood
-
Crypto World6 days agoMoneyflip CEO charged in $40K murder-for-hire plot
-
Sports6 days agoFrance Cricket implodes: letters hidden in a drawer and a board at war
-
Sports6 days agoBruno Fernandes decision made as Man United ‘discuss’ striker transfer option
-
News Videos5 days agoFinancial Crash Expert: The 90-Day Collapse Timeline They Are Desperately Hiding.
-
Sports1 day agoJordan Coyle & Cordiamo take Laya Arena Stakes at RDS
-
Sports7 days agoCommonwealth Games 2026 Live Updates | Day 9 CWG 2026: Lovlina Borgohain, Sachin Siwach Enter Final After Indian Judokas Script History
You must be logged in to post a comment Login