Falls Church Homes Can Receive Sandbags Before Possible Flooding

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The City of Falls Church is making sandbags available on loan as flooding could impact the area starting Thursday.

The sandbags are first come, first serve and are intended for homes with a risk of flooding. Each household can receive up to 20 bags at the Property Yard A (between 215 and 217 Gordon Road, next to the Recycling Center) Thursday, Feb. 6 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The city says staff can help load sandbags into a vehicle but are not responsibly for vehicle damage.

Sandbags can prevent or reduce damages from floodwaters by diverting moving water around instead of through buildings. When placing sandbags, the city recommends following these steps.

• Remove any debris from the area where bags are to be placed.
• If tied bags are used, flatten them and flare the tied end. If untied bags are used, fold the open end to form a triangle.
• To form a sandbag wall, place bags tightly against one another to form the first layer of defense.
• Place succeeding bags on the folded or flared portion of the previous bag and stamp into place to eliminate gaps and to form a tight seal.
• Stagger the second and subsequent layers of bags, similar to the pattern of bricks on a wall.
• Never use bags to build a fortress around your property because this approach can trap water between sandbag walls and structures, causing further damage.
• Sandbag construction does not guarantee a watertight seal. Do not rely on sandbags alone to protect your property. Use baffle boards (plywood sheeting) or sheets of plastic tarp with sandbags.

Sandbags must be returned to the distribution site after the storm.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for northern Virginia from 1 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday. Forecasters expect periods of heavy rain to start Wednesday night and stick around until Friday night. The downpours will hit hardest on Thursday with up to 3 inches of rain predicted, said forecasters. Rain will continue steadily until about 8 p.m. Friday, but then the weather will dry up for a sunny Saturday with highs in the mid 40s, according to the NWS.