| STAFFORD DECLARES LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
The following has been issued by the County Administration.
Stafford, VA – Stafford County Administrator Anthony Romanello has declared a local state of emergency in response to Hurricane Irene. The declaration allows the County to rapidly implement emergency programs and to be eligible for federal assistance in the emergency's aftermath.
In addition, a special help line phone number for people who have non-emergency questions about the hurricane and its impact on our area has been activated. The number is (540) 658-5362. If individuals are in a life-threatening situation, they should call 911, but only if they are in an emergency.
A shelter will be opened beginning at noon tomorrow (Saturday, August 27) at Brooke Point High School, 1700 Courthouse Road, and will be open through Sunday, at noon, or as long as needed. Individuals should bring a change of clothes, bedding, bottled water, nonperishable food, personal hygiene needs, books, and games. Individuals with special needs should bring all of their equipment, supplies, and medications. Individuals can bring their pets to the shelter. They will be cared for by Stafford's Animal Control staff. Pet owners should bring food and medicine required by their pets.
If residents must evacuate, but cannot, they should call 911 in an emergency or contact the Help Line at (540) 658-5362 for non-emergency questions.
The R-Board Regional Landfill on Eskimo Hill Road in Stafford and the Belman Road Recycling Center in Fredericksburg will be closed on Saturday, August 27th and Sunday, August 28th. A crew will come in after the hurricane has passed to prepare both facilities for Monday morning service. Both will be open on Monday during regular working hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m).
In addition, all parks and recreation facilities, including Aquia Landing, the Historic Port of Falmouth and Woodlands Pool, will be closed on Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28. They will reopen on Monday, August 29.
Effective communications and early warnings are critical for disaster management. Residents should acquire a battery operated weather-band radio, as well as become a participant in Stafford Alert http://www.staffordalert.com to receive important messages on communications devices. As a reminder, voice over IP phones (phones through the cable companies) has limited use after a power outage. The phones must be hardwired and portable phones will not work in a power outage. If cell phones are a primary form of communication, individuals should make sure they have a car charger to charge the phone in case of power outages. |
