Dear Neighbor,

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) asks that drivers closely monitor forecasts for wintry precipitation and potential freezing conditions in parts of Northern Virginia this evening and the morning of, Tuesday, January 26. You can monitor the latest forecasts by signing up for severe weather alerts from Fairfax Alerts. Now is an ideal time to prepare for potential power outages and bad weather by purchasing needed groceries, charging your phone, and printing this resource guide.

On a separate note, I'll be hosting a virtual community meeting to discuss the changes proposed in the Zoning Ordinance Modernization Project, or zMOD, tonight, Monday, January 25, at 7:00 p.m. You can join the meeting by using this Teams Meeting link. I encourage everyone to participate, learn more, ask questions, and provide comments.

Also, I'm excited to remind you that this upcoming Saturday, January 30, from 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. is our first Stuff the Bus Food Drive of the year. The Braddock District received a record-breaking amount of donations from concerned residents in 2020 -- can I count on you again? Consider stopping by and donating to help our local families in need. I hope to see you there!

Donations will be received at:

On a final note, if you know someone who is currently exposed to the harsh winter weather, please share the Fairfax County Hypothermia Prevention Program. The program offers a warm bed, a safe environment, and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No one should be left in the cold.

Below you will find an update from VDOT and County resources to help you plan accordingly. If you have additional questions, call my office from 9:00 am through 5:00 p.m. at (703) 425-9300, or email anytime at braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov. We will be ready to serve you!

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

P.S. Forward this message to your neighbors in the Braddock District! Residents can use our sign up feature or email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov to subscribe to the monthly Braddock Beacon newsletter and Advisories like this.

VDOT asks Drivers to:

•Closely monitor weather reports for shifts in forecasts in your area.

•Plan ahead. If road conditions become hazardous, delay travel for your safety and to give crews time to clear or treat roads.

•Be aware of the potential for ice. With freezing temperatures in the forecast, any precipitation may freeze quickly. If you must drive, use extreme caution in areas prone to freezing such as bridges, overpasses, hills, curves, and ramps. See more winter driving tips.

•Monitor road conditions from home, on the free mobile app, or call 511 from any phone in Virginia.

See the National Weather Service's Winter Weather Advisory, including portions of the Northern Virginia District, from 1:00 p.m. Monday through 7:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Find useful links, phone numbers, and additional resources below. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1 (Do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages). Also, check Fairfax County Public Schools' website regularly for any potential updates or alerts.

VDOT Plow Tracker:

Northern Virginia roads are divided into 647 snow maps. Use VDOT's snow plow tracker (activated when there's 2+ inches of snow) to check the status of your road and see what's been cleared.

Roadway Maintenance Map:

If a street within a townhouse, condominium, or business complex is not posted with a state route number, then it is a private street. Snow removal is the responsibility of the property management company, or homeowners association.

Sidewalk and Walkways:

It takes a whole community to shovel snow. While not legally obligated, we need your help to clear snow in front of residential or business properties so that all pedestrians (especially school-aged children, those with disabilities, and the elderly), may walk safely.

Power Outages:

Dominion Energy:

If your power goes out, use your phone, or a laptop connected to a hotspot network, to report your outage and to get updates on their progress on restoring service.

You can report any downed power lines or outages through Dominion Energy's voice response system at 1-866-366-4357.

Utilities:

Washington Gas:

If you smell gas, or in the event of a natural gas emergency, leave the area immediately, and call 9-1-1 and Washington Gas at (703) 750-1400.

Verizon:

To report an outage, call 1-800-837-4966.

Cox:

To report an outage, call (703) 378-8422.

Public Transportation:

We understand many readers rely on public transportation regardless of the weather forecast. Here are some tips to stay safe and warm.

Fairfax Connector:

To minimize the wait time at your stop, check the estimated arrival time of your bus on your smart phone, tablet, or a desktop through Fairfax Connector BusTracker. You can also sign-up for email and/or text alerts for your routes estimated arrival times for a specific stop. Check Fairfax Connector's winter weather tips for additional guidance.

WMATA:

Subscribe to MetroAlerts to receive email or text messages notifying you of Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess service disruptions.

Need a refresher on proper snow shoveling techniques? Watch the video above!

Make sure you shovel your driveway's snow the right way by watching VDOT's video.