SNOW UPDATE

John C. Cook, Braddock District Supervisor

February 10, 2010

Braddock Neighbors: It has been a difficult day. Unfortunately, there are more difficult days ahead. I am asking that you be patient and work together to get through this storm. We are making progress. There is good news. The worst of the snow forecast did not happen. Other good news - a dozen Braddock residents with four wheel drive vehicles have stepped forward to volunteer to help people in difficult situations. Thank you for being great neighbors. If you need special help, please let my office know and we will try to coordinate. IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911.  

As you know, all roads are owned and maintained by the state, through VDOT, and not by the county. The county does not own plows. VDOT handles all plowing, mostly through contractors.  My staff has been in constant contact with VDOT to pass on streets in need of attention. We have a list of 50 Braddock streets that have not been plowed since the snow started last Friday.  Today I spoke with VDOT's Northern Virginia Maintenance Engineer. He conveyed the extreme challenges this storm is posing and stated that additional snow removal trucks are arriving from other parts of the state to help. Quite frankly, VDOT is overwhelmed. But, we all are making slow progress. This evening, some of the untouched neighborhoods are reporting plows are finally arriving. 

I have been in touch with Chairman Bulova and County Executive Tony Griffin. We are all working different angles to try to bring more VDOT resources here to Northern Virginia. In fact, Chairman Bulova and I will be participating in a conference call Thursday morning with VDOT officials in Richmond to press the case for more resources 

If by morning your street still has not been plowed, please contact my office at 703-425-9300 or . We will also start gathering information on streets not plowed from today's storm. Please note that for many streets, one lane is all we are going to get. Please be patient. Once you are plowed once, you may not see a second plow. It may take two days (maybe more) for all streets to get one lane plowed. We are working to shorten that timeframe.  

Snow Emergency Declared in Fairfax County

A snow emergency has been declared for Fairfax County. All roads designated with signs as a "snow emergency route" are now being enforced - it is unlawful to park any vehicle on a snow emergency route or to impede traffic in a vehicle that is not equipped with snow tires or chains. 

The Fairfax County Police Department will remove any vehicle that is stalled, stuck, parked or abandoned on a snow emergency route. The owner or operator of a vehicle that is moved will be responsible for the towing fee, as well as a fine of $25. 

Designated snow emergency routes in the Braddock District are: 

The full release with a complete listing of specific routes is available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2010/county-snow-emergency-declared.htm. 

We also want to make you aware of a criminal scam occurring in some areas. We were told that people are offering to shovel snow for some of the physically less capable residents of the Red Fox Forest area for $400. We have reported them to the police, and Captain Ferguson would really like to find out who they are. Don't allow yourself to be taken advantage of by scam artists. Report to the police at their non-emergency number 703-691-2131 anyone you might suspect is less than honest in their intentions.

Friends, in tough situations, good people pull together.  Frustration is high.  People are worried.  I hear you.  Please work with us, and with each other, and we will weather this storm.  

John C. Cook

Braddock District Supervisor