Derecho Storm Response

DerechoStorm Response

Friday, June 29Friday, June 29 Approximately 10 p.m., a severe

thunderstorm (derecho) hit Fairfax County.

Within 30 minutes the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated at a monitoring level.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 At 4 a.m. the EOC was deactivated;

all public safety and VDOT needs had been met and Dominion Virginia Power was reporting approximately 20,000 meters out of service.

The EOC was re-activated at 9:30 a.m.

EOC Operational HoursEOC Operational Hours The EOC was staffed 24/7 Saturday,

June 30, through 8 p.m. Monday, July 2. – 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 3.– 11 a.m. to midnight, Wednesday, July 4– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, July 5– 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, July 6. – OEM duty officer monitored the event

during the overnight hours maintaining situational awareness.

Derecho Storm ResponseDerecho Storm Response Power Outages in Fairfax County Dominion Va. Power - 394,361

meters. NOVEC - 26,306 meters. Saturday, June 30, 2 p.m.:

– 229,000 Dominion Virginia Power meters without power.

– 3,263 NOVEC meters without power.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 No 9-1-1 phone service, limited

communication ability. 120+ traffic intersections without

power. Over 40 percent of fire stations were

operating on emergency generator power and 50% had no land-line phone service.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 The County has 63 wastewater

pumping stations; 40 lost commercial power.

All 63 wastewater pumping stations wastewater pumping stations lost SCADA (Supervisory Control lost SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system and Data Acquisition) system communications during this storm.communications during this storm.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 100+ homes reported damaged by 100+ homes reported damaged by

fallen tress; 15 homes being fallen tress; 15 homes being reviewedreviewedby Buildingby BuildingInspector.Inspector.

50+ FCPS siteswere withoutpower.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 Falls Church Water Utility issued a boil

water advisory advising water customers in portions of Tysons Corner, Vienna, Dunn Loring and Merrifield to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution.

No issues for Fairfax Water customers.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 County voice and data was

compromised due to power outages. Internal County

radio systemremainedfunctional.

F&R windshieldsurveys.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 Phone calls were initiated to

everyone registered on the County’s special medical needs registry to see if any access or functional needs were identified; calls were continued daily through Tuesday, July 3.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/specialneeds/

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 All County facilities

with power serve ascooling opportunities.

Due to power outages,messaging was doneabout availablefacilities that hadpower and were open.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 Local and State emergency

declarations. Governor Robert (Bob) F. McDonnell

and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman SharonBulova attendedan operationalbriefing inthe EOC.

Saturday, June 30Saturday, June 30 Governor Robert (Bob) F. McDonnell

and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman SharonBulova conducteda joint pressconferenceheld at MPSTOC.

Derecho Storm ResponseDerecho Storm Response

Sunday, July 1Sunday, July 1 EOC operational 24/7.EOC operational 24/7. 130 intersections130 intersections

affected.affected. Boil water advisoryBoil water advisory

in affect.in affect. Several policeSeveral police

stations withoutstations withoutcommercial power.commercial power.

Sunday, July 1Sunday, July 1 No 9-1-1 phone service, limited

communication ability. Cooling opportunities continued. Extended hours at I-66 Transfer

Station and I-495 Landfill complex.

Sunday, July 1Sunday, July 1 Regional CAO conference call to Regional CAO conference call to

determine regionaldetermine regionalinfrastructure damage,infrastructure damage,operating status, etc.operating status, etc.

Assessment of CountyAssessment of Countyfacilities is ongoing;facilities is ongoing;operational status foroperational status forMonday determined.Monday determined.

Sunday, July 1Sunday, July 1 Notifications made to County staff Notifications made to County staff

(EAN, employee hotline, etc.)(EAN, employee hotline, etc.) Accommodations made for several Accommodations made for several

agencies and personnel due to agencies and personnel due to power outages.power outages.


Monday, July 2Monday, July 2 EOC operationalEOC operational

through 8 p.m. Dutythrough 8 p.m. Dutyofficer providedofficer providedovernight coverage.overnight coverage.

Approximately 100Approximately 100intersections affected.intersections affected.

Intermittent issues withIntermittent issues withmobile comm terminals.mobile comm terminals.

Monday, July 2Monday, July 2 9-1-1 phone service issues

continue. Cooling opportunities continue. Continue to assess County

infrastructure and operations.

Monday, July 2Monday, July 2 County open with unscheduled

leave; emergency service personnel reported as scheduled.

Courts were closed. County services continued with

some modifications.


Tuesday, July 3Tuesday, July 3 EOC operational, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 9-1-1 phone service restored; fully

functional. Cooling opportunities continue. Continue to assess County

infrastructure and operations. County open with unscheduled leave; emergency service personnel reported as scheduled.

Tuesday, July 3Tuesday, July 3 Multiple conference calls with human

service agencies, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), faith-based groups, etc. to ensure that human service needs were being met.

Regional conference calls with emergency managers and CAOs continued (daily events).

Tuesday, July 3Tuesday, July 3 Lewinsville Presbyterian Church,

McLean, opened to provide a cool spot for residents. The church discontinued its heat relief operations at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 5.

Other non-county sponsored locations were opened as well as cooling opportunities in several Board Districts.


Wednesday, July 4Wednesday, July 4 EOC operational, EOC operational, 11 a.m. to midnight;

Hours adjusted to ensure monitoring and coordination due to possible weather and fireworks events.

Extended hours continue at I-66 Transfer Station and I-495 Landfill complex.

Flat fee for debris drop-off.

Wednesday, July 4Wednesday, July 4 Extended hours at RECenters. Fee waived for use of shower

facilities at RECenters. Fire & Rescue continue

“walkabouts” in the hardest hit areas of the County.

Wednesday, July 4Wednesday, July 4 Cooling opportunities continued. Special information and referral

line was operational, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Continue to assess County infrastructure and operations.


Thursday, July 5Thursday, July 5 EOC operational, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.EOC operational, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Continued restoration of power to Continued restoration of power to

County facilities, schools and County facilities, schools and prioritization of restoration of prioritization of restoration of services in conjunction with services in conjunction with Dominion Virginia Power.Dominion Virginia Power.

Thursday, July 5Thursday, July 5 Cooling opportunities continue.Cooling opportunities continue. Continued decrease in roadways/ Continued decrease in roadways/

intersections affected by intersections affected by power/debris.power/debris.

Continue to assess County infrastructure and operations.


Friday, July 6Friday, July 6 EOC operational, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 483 meters without power (As of 5

p.m.)

FCPS – power restored at all sites Continue to assess County

infrastructure; all County facilities have power.

Derecho Storm ResponseDerecho Storm Response For the event (June 29-July 6),

there were four reported deaths* in Fairfax County.

The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has reported there have been 10 heat-related fatalities statewide since June 20.

* Two fatalities from the storm; the additional two were patients transported to Fairfax hospitals from outside our jurisdiction.

Derecho Storm ResponseDerecho Storm Response Next StepsNext Steps

– The Office of Emergency Management will conduct a complete after-incident report, bringing in County agencies, partner agencies and external partners.

– The Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Information Technology have been working and beta testing an online damage disaster database, a reporting tool for residents to report damages. Given the June 29 storm, OEM and DIT staff fast-tracked the project. The database is live and will be promoted this week for residents to report derecho damage.

– Investigate opportunities for improved communications.

News & Politics

Derecho Storm Response