Latest Hurricane Irene Forecast for Prince William County

Update: (Aug. 27 at 5:53 p.m.) Jason Grant from the county said there are reports of a downed tree and power lines at Carroll Avenue in Woodbridge. Residents are urged to stay inside. 

The following is from a prepared statement by Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department.

Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Firefighters put their personal lives aside to pull together to protect the community. In addition to their regular equipment, OWL VFD has staffed all of their back up apparatus as well.

With oncoming hurricane Irene, OWL VFD is ready for the call.  In addition to the normal apparatus that is staffed, OWL VFD volunteers have come in to staff two additional engines, two brush trucks, an additional ladder truck, a heavy rescue squad and a collapse rescue vehicle. “OWL has also trained personnel and staffed a swift water boat specifically designed for this type of emergency. All of our chiefs have been called in to assist with an expected higher than normal call volume and to help assess damage following the storm. All together over 30 off duty volunteer first responders have reported to our stations,” said Chief McAllister.

“OWL VFD is committed to community safety. These men and women, and all our volunteers, exemplify the spirit of OWL VFD. We strive to provide the very best fire suppression, emergency medical, technical rescue, and water rescue services to the citizens and visitors of Woodbridge, Virginia and Prince William County. Preparations for Irene began on Tuesday, and our readiness plan was complete by Wednesday.”

The following is from a prepared statement by Jason Grant, communications director for the county.

"As you are aware, Hurricane Irene will be hitting the Prince William County area this evening. The most severe activity is expected to be Saturday, 7 p.m. through Sunday, 3 a.m. We are under flash flood warnings and currently expect one to two inches of rain in western Prince William County and two to four inches in eastern Prince William County. Please check with weather outlets for updated and accurate information weather conditions.

Prince William County has activated its Emergency Operation Center (EOC) from Saturday at 1 p.m. through Sunday at noon and will modify hours as conditions dictate. I will be sending out updates as conditions change and will be available if you have any questions or wish to report any information you become aware of.

We are expecting power outages, downed trees and flash flooding. Currently we do not expect to have to open shelters, but are prepared if conditions become severe. Residents are encouraged to call 911 if they experience any life-threatening situations.

Some basic recommendations for public safety include:

• Stay inside, away from windows and glass doors.
• Clear yards, decks and patios of any loose articles and patio furniture.
• Stay tuned to local TV and radio stations for the most current information.
• Plan to be self-sustaining for at least three days – have food that doesn’t need refrigeration and one gallon of water per person per day.  Have a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio and extra batteries ready so you can hear weather information and instructions from officials when power goes out.
• Do not use unattended candles as a source of light as candles are a common cause of house fires.
• Stay at home until the rain and standing water subsides. If you must leave your home, be sure to drive cautiously. Avoid standing water and give plenty of distance from other vehicles as hydroplaning occurs easily in these conditions. Most importantly, if you see standing water that is covering the road do not attempt to drive through it. Turn around and find an alternate route.

Residents who experience power outages should contact their power provider. Dominion Virginia Power and NOVEC are prepared for power outages, but depending on the extent and cause of the outage, it could take a lengthy period of time to restore power.

Finally, regarding effects of the storm, the following is important for Prince William County residents to keep in mind:

• Downed trees on private property is the responsibility of the property owner to remove. If there are trees or debris blocking storm drains or streams during the storm contact the Emergency Operation Center at 703-792-7020. Residents reporting such issues after the EOC has been deactivated (expected to be 12pm Sunday), should contact the Department of Public Works (703-792-7070).
• Residents with public water should contact their provider with any issues or concerns with their water system.
• Residents with concerns regarding potential contamination of their well water should contact the Health Department at 703-792-6300."