Georgetown, Del., 10/06/05 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy coupled with an approaching cold front will surely spell relief for parched lawns and the water table in the next few days, and that’s good news. But the heavy rains forecast for Friday into Saturday could cause some travel problems residents need to bear in mind.

National Weather Service forecasters are predicting that as much as 3 inches of rain will fall over Sussex County in the next 24 to 36 hours.

The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center wants to remind the local citizenry – through the help of our local media – to be extra careful if driving, particularly during the onset of the rain. The lack of substantial rain since early August has allowed oils, antifreeze and other fluids to accumulate on paved surfaces.

When sudden rains come, those fluids rise to the surface and can inhibit good traction, making roads and highways slick, especially in the first 15 minutes of the storm, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. Obviously, that raises the potential for accidents.

Emergency officials want motorists to exercise good driving practices so they stay safe and accident-free: slow down, keep a minimum of a three-car distance from other vehicles and don’t slam on the brakes if you go into a skid.

“We’re not really expecting this to cause any major problems in the area,” Sussex County EOC spokeswoman Debbie Jones said. “But because we haven’t had any real measurable rain in the last two months, people should be extra careful if they’re going to be out on the road.”

Forecasters are not predicting any significant flooding to occur as a result of the rain. However, residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas should be on the lookout for any rising waters, and those residents should notify authorities if conditions worsen.