Falls Church City officials report that several hours after rains and winds from Hurricane Irene left the City, all City traffic lights are operating normally and the Community Center and Library will be open regular operating hours today, but some residents and businesses are still without power.
According to Dominion Power, some Falls Church customers still do not have electricity. Dominion is working to restore service and citizens can report outages with Dominion by calling 866-366-4357. To be safe, residents should stay away from fallen wires, flooded areas and debris and treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they’re energized. Residents should also note that exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be deadly, so only run generators outside with proper ventilation. Fuel for generators should be stored safely outside.
City crews worked through the night and this morning to clear downed trees in public right-of-ways. Despite several downed trees and many branches, no City streets are blocked. Trees cut by City crews have been moved to the side of the road and will be collected in the next few weeks and eventually recycled. Because a federal emergency was not declared for the City of Falls Church, City collection of brush debris from Hurricane Irene will follow normal brush collection procedures. Instructions for bundled brush collectionare available on the City web site or by calling 703-248-5176 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday. To request a special collection of unbundled brush ($75 per 2 cubic yards of material) call 703-248-5160 or self-haul material to the Fairfax County Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road); fees may apply; call 703-631-1179 (TTY 711) for more information
While the heavy rains and strongest winds from Irene have left the area, it is possible some trees may still fall. To report a downed tree in Falls Church, call the non-emergency police line at 703-248-5053. Call 911 only for emergencies.
