Fairfax County Executive Ed Long reports on response to storm
 |
| Trees knocked down on Masonville Drive in Annandale. |
At the July 10, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
meeting, County Executive Edward L. Long Jr. presented a report about how the county responded to the derecho thunderstorm that struck the area
Friday, June 29, at approximately 10 p.m.
meeting, County Executive Edward L. Long Jr. presented a report about how the county responded to the derecho thunderstorm that struck the area
Friday, June 29, at approximately 10 p.m.
The county activated its Emergency Operations
Center (EOC) about an hour after the storm struck and deactivated it at about 4
a.m. Saturday, “since there were no indications of massive phone or massive
power outage,” Long reported. It was re-activated at 9:30 a.m., once the true
extent of the disaster was discovered.
Center (EOC) about an hour after the storm struck and deactivated it at about 4
a.m. Saturday, “since there were no indications of massive phone or massive
power outage,” Long reported. It was re-activated at 9:30 a.m., once the true
extent of the disaster was discovered.
On Saturday, July 30, there were more than 230,000 power
outages across the county, affecting approximately 55 percent of the county’s
meters.
outages across the county, affecting approximately 55 percent of the county’s
meters.
9-1-1 service was also affected, and the report
states, there was “no loss of life due to 9-1-1 phone service outage,” the
report states.
states, there was “no loss of life due to 9-1-1 phone service outage,” the
report states.
There were four reported deaths in Fairfax County
related to the storm and aftermath (June 29-July 6). Two of them were patients transported
to Fairfax hospitals from outside the county. jurisdiction). There was also one
heat-related death in the county.
On June 30, power outages affected more than 120
traffic intersections; more than 50 Fairfax County public school sites; and several
public safety facilities, including fire stations in Annandale.
traffic intersections; more than 50 Fairfax County public school sites; and several
public safety facilities, including fire stations in Annandale.
Forty of the county’s wastewater pumping stations
lost power on June 30. All of them lost Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition system communications, which means county personnel were unable to remotely
monitor wastewater pumping station operations.
lost power on June 30. All of them lost Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition system communications, which means county personnel were unable to remotely
monitor wastewater pumping station operations.
On the afternoon of June 30, the Falls Church Water Utility advised customers to boil tap water before using it for drinking or
cooking. That affected Fairfax County residents in portions of Tysons
Corner, Vienna, Dunn Loring, and Merrifield.
cooking. That affected Fairfax County residents in portions of Tysons
Corner, Vienna, Dunn Loring, and Merrifield.
All county facilities that had electricity were
made available as “cooling centers,” offering relief to people without access
to air conditioning.
made available as “cooling centers,” offering relief to people without access
to air conditioning.
Volunteer Fairfax representatives in the EOC made
phone calls to all 161 people on the County’s Special Medical Needs Registry to see if they needed assistance.
phone calls to all 161 people on the County’s Special Medical Needs Registry to see if they needed assistance.
About 4,000 tons of solid waste brush was collected
along I-95 and I-66 between June 30 and July 6.
along I-95 and I-66 between June 30 and July 6.
