[Archived] City of Alexandria Issues Updates on Wind Storm Recovery

For Immediate Release: March 3, 2018

Alexandria continues to recover from dangerously high winds on March 2.

Power Outages: Keep batteries and flashlights ready, and make sure cell phones and other electronic devices are charged.  Report power outages to Dominion Energy at 866.DOM.HELP (866.366.4357) or www.dom.com.  It may take Dominion crews some time to restore all outages, since continued high winds may prevent the use of bucket trucks.

Traffic Signals: It may take several days for crews to repair signals at more than 50 intersections.  Please approach all intersections cautiously.  Treat a dark traffic signal or a flashing red signal as a stop sign, and use caution when entering an intersection with a flashing yellow signal.

Wires: Stay at least 30 feet away from any wires. Treat all wires as if they are electric wires, and report them to Dominion Energy at 866.DOM.HELP (866.366.4357).

Street Lights and Poles: The City has moved fallen poles out of roadways and is working to move poles in other areas that present safety hazards.  Please report damaged or inoperable street lights to Dominion Energy.  Include the pole number if you can safely read it.

Yard Waste: There is likely to be a significant amount of yard waste as cleanup progresses. It may take collection days this week and next week to collect everything. Please place tree limbs and other larger pieces of yard waste next to trash cans and without blocking vehicles or pedestrians. Place smaller pieces in paper bags or containers with City-issued ‘Yard Waste’ stickers so crews can identify it. More information on how to properly prepare yard waste is available at alexandriava.gov/YardWaste.

House and Other Debris: Shingles, gutters, metal flashing and more have all come off buildings during this storm. There are different disposal requirements depending on the material. See alexandriava.gov/RefuseCollection to learn how to handle larger pieces of debris.

Cancellations, Closures, and Schedule Changes: The St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled for March 3 has been cancelled. For more information, please see the event organizer’s Facebook page.  Due to the cancellation of the parade, the Old Town Farmers' Market (301 King St.) will be open during its regularly scheduled hours, 7 a.m. to noon.  Other meeting cancellations and facilities closures are posted on alexandriava.gov/Calendar. For Alexandria City Public Schools operating status, seewww.acps.k12.va.us/emergency.

For questions or concerns about storm response, call 703.746.HELP or use Call.Click.Connect. Please call 911 only if you need immediate police, fire, or emergency medical assistance.

For emergency preparedness information, visit alexandriava.gov/Emergency. For weather-related alerts, sign up for the City's Alexandria eNews service, or connect online at alexandriava.gov/SocialMedia.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.