If your vehicle was damaged during the Sept. 8 storm that flooded the North Reston park and ride lot, you have the right to file a claim with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).  However, in order for the claim to be honored, there must be a determination that VDOT was negligent.

“We don’t want to discourage any vehicle owner from filing a claim but it’s important folks understand how the process works and that there must be negligence for the claim to be honored,” said Garrett Moore, VDOT northern Virginia district administrator.

VDOT is of the opinion that there was no negligence in the design, construction or maintenance of the Reston North park-and-ride lot. The Reston lot, at the corner of Sunset Hills Road and Wiehle Avenue, was overwhelmed by water as were more than 100 other roads in Fairfax County on Sept. 8. The floodwater in the lot receded the next morning.

As with any tort claim against VDOT, if it is determined that VDOT was negligent the agency has the authority to settle claims up to $1,000.  Those claims should be addressed to: VDOT Fairfax Maintenance, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, ATTN: Cynthia Mercer. The letter should include the date, time and location of the event, daytime phone or other contact information, photos and any other documentation to support the claim along with a signature.

Claims over $1,000 come under the authority of the Virginia Department of Risk Management. Those claims should be addressed to the Virginia Division of Risk Management, P.O. Box 1879, Richmond, VA 23218-1879. The phone number is 804-786-3152.

The Reston IFLOWS gauge in Fairfax County recorded 6.57 inches in 6 hours, which is also approximately a 500-year rainfall (based on precip frequency from Dulles).

That would certainly help explain flooding at the Reston Park and Ride last Thursday that left many cars underwater.

The accumulated precipitation for the week due mostly to the passing of the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee is much higher: 6.44 inches. Statistics for Dulles Airport:

• Monday 9/5: 1.99 inches
• Tuesday 9/6: 1.07 inches
• Wednesday 9/7: 1.11 inches
• Thursday 9/8: 2.27 inches

Two people in Fairfax County died in drowning accidents following heavy, sudden rainfall on Thursday, September 8.

Jake Donaldson, 12, was reported missing around 6 p.m., believed to have been swept away by flood waters in his backyard in the 9700 block of Marcliff Court. Numerous police and fire personnel responded to the scene in the torrential downpour to search for the boy. His body was found around 8 p.m. in Piney Branch Creek at Lawyers Road.

Detectives are continuing to investigate.

In another incident at around 7 p.m., police and emergency personnel responded to an apparent drowning of a 67-year-old man. He had been driving his Toyota Yaris in rising waters near Beech Mill Road at Club View Drive. The man, Arsalan Hakiri, was swept downstream in his car. As he apparently tried to get out, he was swept into the creek and drowned near Carrwood Drive.

Detectives from the Crash Reconstruction Unit are continuing to investigate.

The Fairfax County Fire Department has some safety tips as well as known flash flood places in the county.

Flash flooding of roads, streams, and other low-lying areas during heavy and prolonged rainfall can be dangerous. This is especially true for motorists attempting to negotiate a roadway that cannot be easily seen because of high water and limited visibility. Flooding due to high rainfall and swollen streams can take its toll on the unsuspecting driver. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department offers the following safety tips when flooding is forecasted and locations of past flooding areas.

• Never drive through a flooded roadway; the depth, current, and condition of the road are all unknowns and can be deadly.
• If you come to a flooded area while driving, stop and take an alternate route.
• If your vehicle stalls on a flooded road and water is rising, get out of car, call 911, and move to higher ground.
• Always stay away from floodwaters; even six inches of swiftly moving water can knock someone off their feet.
• Approximately two feet of swift water can move or float most vehicles, including SUV’s and pickup trucks.
• Never let children near flooded areas.
• When flooding is predicted, keep your vehicle parked in your garage or on the driveway away from low-lying areas and large drains.
• Be especially cautious during periods of limited visibility or nighttime when it is extremely difficult to see and judge conditions.

 

Previous County Flooding Locations
Georgetown Pike/Swinks Mill Road)	Swinks Mill Road/Burford Drive
Georgetown Pike/Lawton Street	Besley Road/Old Court House Road
Lawyers Road/Whippoorwill Road	Knollwood Drive/Glen Carlyn Drive
Popkins Lane/Coventry Road	George Washington Mem Pkwy/Duke Marsh
Bellhaven Community/Fort Hunt Road	Walker Road/Windswept Drive
Leigh Mill Road/White Chimney Lane	Shreve Road/Bucklew Drive
Burke Road/Liberty Bell Court	Guinea Road/Colony View Drive
Burke Lake Road/Kilenny Lane	Lee Jackson Mem Hwy/Airline Pkwy
Stringfellow Road/Melville Road	Old Lee Road/Braddock Road
Walney Road/Willard Road	Fairfax Station Road/Innsvale Drive
Chapel Road/Sangsters Court	Lee Highway/Sandy Point Lane
Lee Highway/Clifton Road	Lee Highway/Bradley Road
Richmond Highway/Lorton Road	Old Colchester Road/Pohick Creek
Old Colchester Road/Hassett Street	Fair Oaks Shopping Center/holding pond
Lee Jackson Mem Hwy/Waples Mill Road	Backlick Road/Cumberland Avenue
Guinea Road/Bayard Place	Woodburn Road/Spicewood Drive
Prosperity Avenue/Morningside Drive	Prosperity Avenue/Eakin Park
Old Mill Road/golf course	Richmond Highway/north of Route 235
Ferry Landing Road/Old Mt. Vernon Road	Browns Mill Road/Pennycress Lane
Browns Mill Road/Windstone Drive	Hunter Mill Road/Chamberlain Drive
Hunter Station Road/Hunter Mill Road	Hunter Mill Road/near Cedar Pond Drive
Edsall Road/Industrial Drive	Cherokee Avenue/Navaho Drive
Old Keene Mill Road/Jansen Drive	Huntsman Boulevard/Sydenstricker Road
Patterson Drive/Beachway Drive	Bellview Road/Old Dominion Drive
Brooke Road/Daleview Drive	Spring Hill Road/Georgetown Pike
Lewinsville Road/Holly Leaf Drive	Chichester Lane/Copeland Pond Court
Fox Mill Road/Folkstone Drive	Fox Mill Road/Thoroughbred Road
Newington Road/Cinder Bed Road	Braddock Road/Pleasant Valley Road
Springvale Road/Crippen Court	Stuart Road/Gillman Lane
Chain Bridge Road/Lee Highway

 

In addition, the National Weather Service has also issued a fire weather watch in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening. A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur.

Fairfax County residents should be concerned about the impacts from very high winds tomorrow (Saturday) across the National Capital Region. Downed trees and large limbs are possible. Residents may want to ensure that outdoor furniture and other items outside homes and businesses are properly secured or moved inside. Bring in unsecured objects from patios and balconies and secure outdoor objects such as lawn furniture or garbage cans that could blow away and cause damage or injury.

Ensure that windows are secure and brace outside doors.

Also, if driving, keep both hands on the wheel and slow down. Watch for objects blowing across the roadway and into your path. Keep a safe distance from cars in adjacent lanes as strong gusts could push a car outside its lane of travel. Take extra care in a high-profile vehicle such as a truck, van, SUV, or when towing a trailer, as these are more prone to be pushed or even flipped by high wind gusts.

If you are caught outside during high winds, take cover next to a building or under a secure shelter. Stand clear of roadways or train tracks as a gust may blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Use handrails where available, and avoid elevated areas such as roofs.

...FAIRFAX COUNTY...
   RAVENSWORTH            9.0   200 PM  2/10
   1 N FRANCONIA          9.0  1200 PM  2/10
   1 SE CENTREVILLE       9.0  1240 PM  2/10
   VIENNA                 9.0  1258 PM  2/10
   2 NE OAKTON            9.0  1107 AM  2/10
   1 W LINCOLNIA          8.5   230 PM  2/10   SPOTTER
   1 NNE FAIRFAX STATIO   7.1   150 PM  2/10   SNOW ENDED.
   1 W CENTREVILLE        7.0   130 PM  2/10
   2 NE CHANTILLY         7.0  1100 AM  2/10   COCORAHS
   4 E CENTREVILLE        6.0   930 AM  2/10
   LORTON                 5.8  1130 AM  2/10

7 inches is about right. Add this to the 24-27 inches received on the February 6-7 storm and close to a yard of snow is now on the ground.

As if this were not enough, the Washington region set a hundred year for snowfall this season today according to The Washington Post.

Reagan National Airport (DCA) reported 1″ of snow between 1 and 2 p.m., upping its storm total to 9.8″. It has received 54.9″ this year, exceeding the 54.4″ of 1898-1899.