[Archived] City of Alexandria Advises Residents And Businesses To Prepare For Possible Flooding

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	August 31, 2006 PIO# 202-06/rdo	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 ADVISES RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES
TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING

The National Weather Service has issued both a Coastal Flood Watch and a Flash Flood Watch for Alexandria and the entire greater Washington area through late Friday night.

High tides at Alexandria on Thursday night (2:02 a.m. Friday) and Friday night (3:02 a.m. Saturday) may result in water rising 1 � to 2 � feet above normal predicted levels. In addition, heavy rains totaling 5 to 10 inches may cause flash flooding throughout this period.

Businesses and residents along the Potomac River waterfront, in areas adjacent to flood-prone streams and in other low-lying areas that historically experience storm sewer overflows are urged to take precautions to protect themselves and their property from possible flood damage.

Beginning at 12:00 p.m. today, the City of Alexandria will provide a limited number of free sandbags (5 bag maximum) to Alexandria residents and businesses from the following locations:

* Intersection of King and Lee Streets in Old Town
* George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Vernon Ave
* Intersection of Commonwealth Ave. and East Glebe Road

Additional sandbags are available to Alexandria residents and businesses at a self-bagging location set up at Windmill Hill Park, 501 South Union St. (at Wolfe St.) Valid identification is required at all locations.

Residents and businesses are reminded that sandbags alone do not provide a waterproof barrier. Sandbags should be used to anchor waterproof material such as tarps or heavy plastic bags in place against doorways or covering plywood sheeting placed over basement window wells.

During periods of flash flooding, sewer backups can occur in areas of the City that have combined storm and sanitary sewer systems. To prevent backups, residents should plug basement floor drains. Information on additional prevention measures is available at www.alexandriava.gov.

For more information or to report a non-life threatening incident, Alexandria residents and businesses should call 703-836-0041.

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