[Archived] City of Alexandria Responds to Flood Emergency

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	June 26, 2006 PIO# 161-06/jbh	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Responds to Flood Emergency

Alexandria and the entire region received a near-record amount of rain on Sunday. The heavy downpour of more than 5 inches of rain Sunday evening and early Monday resulted in localized damage throughout the City and severe flooding adjacent to Cameron Run in the Eisenhower Avenue area and South Pickett Street, adjacent to Backlick Run.

At one point, the I-95 Capital Beltway was closed in both directions at Telegraph Road, causing traffic to be diverted onto local streets. The City’s historic Old Town waterfront area experienced only minor flooding early this morning and all businesses remain open.

The City of Alexandria activated its emergency operations center at approximately 11:00 p.m. Sunday. Representatives of all City departments worked throughout the night to coordinate the City’s response to the storm and resulting flooding. Alexandria Emergency Communications responded to approximately 150 calls directly related to the storm through noon on Monday. Alexandria emergency response personnel rescued approximately 25 motorists who had become stranded in their vehicles by rising floodwaters near the Beltway and Eisenhower Avenue.

At the height of the storm, the building at 2900 Eisenhower Avenue housing the Alexandria Police Department’s Uniform Patrol Division and other adjacent commercial buildings experienced basement flooding that knocked out the building’s elevators and emergency generators. The Police Department division has been temporarily relocated to the department’s Mill Road facility without any interruption of service.

Other areas of the City experienced localized flooding resulting from overflowing creeks and streams and torrential rain. Residents in some areas encountered localized sewer backups due to surcharging of the City’s sewer systems.

The City’s Emergency Management Team is conducting a complete assessment of storm damage. Fortunately, there are no reports of fatalities or serious injuries at this time.

Most city streets affected by Sunday’s storm have been reopened.

According to Dominion Virginia Power, approximately 1100 customers in the Alexandria area are currently without electric service due to broken utility poles and downed power lines.

The National Weather Service predicts that three to six inches of additional rain will fall by Tuesday night and a Flash Flood warning has been issued for Alexandria and the entire northern Virginia area. With creeks already swollen and the ground saturated, it is possible that additional flooding may occur in low-lying areas. The weather service has also predicted the Potomac River will crest at 4 feet above flood stage early Tuesday evening.

All residents and businesses are urged to take precautions to avoid rising flood waters. Sandbags are available at King and Lee Streets for those Old Town Alexandria residents and businesses that may need them.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center will continue to operate as long as necessary. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, Alexandrians should call 911. Persons reporting downed trees or other non-emergency situations should call Alexandria’s City Hotline at 703-836-0041 before 5:00 p.m. and 703-548-6257 after hours.

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