Flash Flood Watch: Loudoun County Issues Advice

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — With the National Weather Service having issued a flash flood watch for Loudoun County and the rest of the Northern Virginia region, county officials have issued a list of precautions for residents. For the record, the watch is in effect from 2 p.m Friday to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Forecasts say 3 inches of rain is possible Friday into Saturday across much of the area. Thunderstorms could cause locally higher rainfall amounts that may result in rapid rises in streams and creeks. This could quickly result in flooding in low lying and poor drainage areas. The watch area includes the District of Columbia, plus Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Frederick, Fauquier, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Stafford, Warren, and the Loudoun areas.

Here are five things for every resident to know about the heavy rains approaching Loudoun:

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1. Know the Forecast

www.weather.gov/lwx, Facebook, or Twitter.

2. Prepare Your Property: Reduce the Risk of Damage to Structures from Flooding.

• Clear debris from gutters and downspouts.
• Anchor any fuel tanks.
• If you have a sump pump, make sure it is working and that the outlet pipe is not blocked. If possible, install a battery-operated backup in case of a power failure.
• Bring in outdoor furniture and move important indoor items to the highest possible floor.

3. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!

• If you come to a flooded roadway, stop and do not cross. It is impossible to determine the depth of the water or the condition of the road under the water. It takes just 12 inches of flowing water to carry off a small car and just six inches of water to knock a person down and carry them away. Find out more at www.loudoun.gov/flood, which also includes links to traffic incident maps from the Sheriff’s Office and road conditions from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

4. Make a Plan and Build a Kit

• Do you have an emergency plan? Preparing your family or your business for emergencies is important and does not have to take a lot of time. Online tools to make a plan are available at www.loudoun.gov/readynova.
• Tips on what supplies to put in your emergency kit are online at www.loudoun.gov/makeakit.

5. Stay Informed

• Visit Loudoun County’s flooding preparedness web page, www.loudoun.gov/flood, which provides a full range of links to helpful resources including local utilities.
• Sign up for Alert Loudoun.
• Follow Loudoun County Government on Facebook and Twitter.

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