Washington-area residents are still mopping up after the floods that soaked the region last week, while authorities assess the millions of dollars of damage wrought by the storms. The Virginia Department of Transportation estimates that the unprecedented flooding did $10 million in damage to the state’s roads and bridges.
In the Huntington community of Fairfax County, residents are ripping out drywall and carpet soaked by a flooding Cameron Run after a foot of rain fell between Sept. 8 and 9. About 120 houses still have no gas service while they wait to replace washers, dryers and other appliances, said Michael Guditus of the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management. Nineteen people were still without power as of Thursday.
“It’s just a major cleanup. Drying out what you can, and trying to get back to normal as soon as possible,” said Huntington resident Janet Hedrick, who evacuated during the flooding but was spared the worst of the damage. “It’s terrible that [my neighbors] have to go through this. I think it was even worse this time.”
The recent floods left residents looking for ways to avoid future flood problems.
At a community meeting Wednesday night, Supervisor Gerry Hyland, D-Mount Vernon, presented two options to Huntington residents: create a $30 million storm-water bond to install a levee and pumping station, or allow a redeveloper to come in, buy up their houses and start over.
In Prince William County, about 140 people remain in a temporary shelter after about 12 feet of water ravaged their trailer park in Woodbridge. The county will close the makeshift shelter Friday so the recreation center where the shelter is located can reopen. The Board of Supervisors approved $40,000 on Tuesday for the American Red Cross to help displaced residents find alternative temporary housing.
Three Fairfax County bridges were destroyed in the floods, and portions of six roads remained closed Thursday. VDOT will install temporary bridges and is working to repair the roads.
“It’s unprecedented,” said VDOT spokeswoman Joan Morris. “I don’t think we’ve seen anything like it before. The waters receded, but they did an amazing amount of damage.”
In Maryland, it’s a similar story: Five sections of highways remain closed because of flooding, and the Maryland State Highway Administration is scrambling to reopen the roads and conduct underwater bridge inspections. A bridge on Route 234 over Allens Fresh Run near La Plata was destroyed in the flood and will cost $3 million to replace, officials said.
In Prince George’s County, the ground floor of the County Administration Building remains closed after two feet of water poured into the building last week.
