The week-long rains in the Washington region had by Friday killed four people, closed schools and stranded scores of motorists.
Several inches of rain fell each hour late Thursday in Northern Virginia, forcing officials to close parts of the Beltway and Interstate 66. Parts of Fairfax and Prince William Counties were swamped with almost 10 inches of rain in just 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service.
More rain fell Friday, and weather service forecaster Bryan Jackson said the Washington area had a low chance of more storms Saturday.
Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency for Virginia Friday, giving flooded localities access to state help and dollars in staying afloat and cleaning up. McDonnell also warned of the ongoing danger.
“Rising rivers, creeks and streams, combined with significant rainfall over saturated ground continue to make treacherous and dangerous conditions for travelers and residents along the I-95 corridor,” McDonnell said in a statement.
A 12-year-old boy and two others died in Fairfax County. The boy, Jack Donaldson, was swept away by floodwaters in his backyard around 6 p.m. Thursday. His body was found two hours later.
Arsalan Hakiri, 67, was driving his Toyota Yaris through rising waters in the Great Falls area when the waters swept his car downstream. He died apparently trying to get out of the car, Fairfax County police said.
Galo Sebastian Salvador Vinueza, 25, was reported missing by his wife Thursday night. She found his car unattended, parked by itself on the 8800 block of Telegraph Road near the Accotink Creek Bridge. Fort Belvoir official found his body Friday morning on the banks of Davison Air Field, apparently swept downstream. Fairfax County police said they believe Vineuza attempted to cross the Accotink bridge on foot and was swept away by the current.
Another man drowned in Anne Arundel County Wednesday night.
Numerous roads were closed across Northern Virginia Friday, and VRE train service was cancelled. Fairfax County emergency workers performed 72 water rescues Thursday and early Friday as rain washed out bridges and opened sinkholes on county roads.
In Prince William County, about 300 people took shelter Friday at Woodbridge High School, their homes engulfed in water. The Red Cross provided food and services.
Fairfax County closed schools Friday because too many roads were impassable, spokesman Paul Regnier said. The school system on Thursday had received from a parent a picture of flooded backyards with the message, “Please close the schools tomorrow.” One parent reported ankle-deep water at Robinson Secondary School. Fairfax was inspecting the damage Friday.
In Prince William County, two trailer parks were evacuated Thursday night, and a retaining wall behind an apartment community gave way, damaging the building and forcing evacuations. About 50 people took shelter in Woodbridge High School to escape flooded homes and roads, according to a county spokesman.
The county also urged Woodbridge residents to boil their water in case the floods had contaminated it.
The rain drove Alexandria inside for its 9-11 remembrance ceremony Friday and shut down some bus lines.
County offices opened in Alexandria, Prince William and Fairfax Friday, but non-essential employees were allowed to take the day off.
The D.C. Department of Public Works handed out sandbags again on Friday, for the third day in a row.
