Whether it was due to a loss of power or downed trees, thousands of Arlington residents have felt the effects of Superstorm Sandy. Marco Delmar and his family are definitely among them.
Delmar might initially be dubbed unlucky because a tree fell into his home. However, upon further inspection he and his family could actually fall into the “incredibly lucky” category, considering all four are still alive to tell the story.
Superstorm Sandy — nee Hurricane Sandy — brought heavy rain and fierce winds to Arlington Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
Arlington was “spared the worst of the storm’s impact,” according to county officials, but Sandy and her 60 mph wind gusts knocked down dozens of trees across the county, many of which fell onto roadways and into houses.
Update at 7:25 p.m. — The number of Dominion customers without power in Arlington is up to 16,828.
(Updated at 6:10 p.m.) More than 5,800 Dominion customers are without power in Arlington as of 6:05 p.m. as the strongest winds from Hurricane Sandy have started to arrive in the area.
County officials compared the dangerous conditions Arlington will experience over the next 24 hours to the heavy winds of the June 29 derecho, which lasted 24 minutes.
Already some power problems and falling trees and power lines have been reported. Dominion reported 423 customers without power in Arlington earlier this afternoon, but power has since been restored to most. Firefighters are currently on the scene of a large tree that fell on to a house on the 2900 block of N. Oxford Street, in the Bellevue Forest neighborhood. The house was unoccupied at the time and nobody was hurt.
Arlington County is urging residents to stay put until the heavy rain and wind of Hurricane Sandy blows through the area over the next day or so.
“Arlington emergency managers urge everyone to stay where you are,” the county said in a media alert this morning. “High winds and the danger of falling trees will present an extremely unsafe environment. Get yourself to a safe place and stay there.”
All classes and activities have been canceled Monday at Arlington Public Schools in advance of the storm, which is now expected to drop 5 to 10 inches of rain and pack wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour between tonight and Tuesday.
Metro has suspended all rail, bus and MetroAccess service starting Monday. Service will remain suspended “until further notice.” ART bus service has also been suspended Monday.
Sandy, which is currently churning in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas, is expected to make its way north and threaten the D.C. area. Forecasters from the Capital Weather Gang say there’s a 75 percent chance of a direct or indirect hit from Sandy, which could bring 2 to 8 inches of rain and wind gusts from 50 to over 75 miles per hour.
In a phone interview, Arlington’s acting Deputy Director of Emergency Management, Bonnie Regan, said an email was sent Thursday to emergency support personnel in various county departments, asking them to check generators, fuel supplies, and weekend staff availability.
Update at 9:10 p.m. — The storm is expected to impact Arlington within the next hour.
… STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT ARLINGTON… MONTGOMERY… PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK… PRINCE GEORGES… LOUDOUN AND FAIRFAX COUNTIES…
Update at 3:45 p.m. — Police are reporting high standing water on eastbound Route 50 in the area of Courthouse.
Update at 3:30 p.m. — Dominion is reporting only 93 customers without power in Arlington at this time.
Arlington and the entire D.C. area is under a Tornado Watch through 7:00 tonight.
Forecasters say a line of strong storms will make its way through the area between 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. The storms could produce damaging winds, heavy rains and isolated tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
Arlington County officials are warning of the possibility of severe weather tomorrow.
Forecasters say a cold front is likely to bring high winds and very heavy rain during the afternoon and evening hours.
Update at 8:45 p.m. — The number of Dominion customers without power in Arlington is currently listed as 5,762.
Update at 4:55 p.m. — Dominion is now reporting 9,262 customers without power in Arlington, mostly in South Arlington.
