Hurricane Florence: Sandbags, Support For Falls Church Residents

FALLS CHURCH, VA — With Hurricane Florence bearing down on the East Coast, officials in Falls Church are urging city residents to prepare for a massive storm that could bring several days of rain and flooding to the Washington, D.C., region.

The city announced that the Fall Festival and Cherry Hill Park ceremony scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, may be rescheduled due to forecasts of bad weather. A determination on both events will be made by Wednesday afternoon, city officials said in a statement.

"While the Fall Festival is usually held rain or shine, the Category 4 hurricane warrants special circumstances for large-scale events," the statement reads. "If the events are cancelled, staff will evaluate a possible date change to October."

The city staff will decide on Falls Church's weekly Farmers Market, library events and youth athletics closer to the weekend.

(Stay on top of all the latest Hurricane Florence news with our free, real-time news alerts — find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

The city also released a list of seven tips to residents to prepare for Hurricane Florence:

1) Keep Gutters Clear of Debris. If you set out trash bins and yard waste, please put them on the curb. Please also clean up any debris from the curb gutter. Crews are working to clear the storm drains, and this action from residents and businesses can help tremendously.

If you can, hold yard waste until next week's collection. This prevents any accidental spills into the storm drains.

2) Secure or Store Outdoor Items. Residents should secure or store toys, lawn equipment, tables, chairs, umbrellas and other items that could be a danger in high winds.

Businesses should secure or store signs, tables, chairs and especially umbrellas that could become dangerous projectiles in hurricane-force winds.

3) Check on Your Neighbors. Make time now for an elderly or infirm neighbor. Let them know you'll check on them throughout the storm. If they don't use the Internet for news, let them know about critical messages from the city government and local news.

4) Sandbags Available for Homes at Risk. The Falls Church Department of Public Works is providing sandbags for homes at risk for flooding. If a resident received sandbags from the city this year, they are not eligible for this storm.

A maximum of 20 bags per household are available first-come, first-served at Property Yard A (next to the Recycling Center on Gordon Road) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Sept. 12 through Sept. 14) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

City staff will help with loading bags into vehicles, but they will not be responsible for vehicle damage.

5) Know Who to Call. Prepare for power outages. Report to Dominion Virginia Energy at 866-366-4357 or www.dom.com. Report even if your neighbors have already done so; the more accounts affected, the quicker the response time could be from Dominion.

If a tree falls on a house, business or in a roadway, or if your house floods, please call the City of Falls Church Police non-emergency line at 703-248-5053 (TTY 711).

6) Check Your Emergency Kit. FEMA recommends stocking water (one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation), food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food), a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, flashlight with extra batteries, first aid kit and prescription medications, and more.

7) Stay Tuned for the Latest News. Check the city's website, Facebook and Twitter accounts for important updates. Subscribe to Falls Church Alerts for critical emergency notices. Watch local news for forecasts on how the storm will affect our area.

SEE MORE:

• Hurricane Update: Florence May Pound NoVa With Rain
• Hurricane Florence: Travel Alerts Issued For VA Airports
• Hurricane Florence: Emergency Kit, Insurance Info To Know In VA
• Flood Warning Issued For Alexandria As Hurricane Approaches

Image: Tropical cyclone (National Hurricane Center)