weather

Dealing with Flooding in Bloomingdale

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville resident SG

Thanks to all who sent links to the new page by DC Water:

“The flooding events of July 2012 are evidence of a change in the Bloomingdale neighborhood since DC Water last extensively surveyed the area in 2006. The permanent, long-term solution is the Clean Rivers Project, scheduled for 2025. In the meantime, our Bloomingdale Action Agenda is a list of specific steps DC Water, residents and businesses, and other parts of the government are taking and can take to reduce the effects of runoff and flooding.”

DC Water also wrote in an email:

“We have already begun implementing what I call our Bloomingdale Action Agenda,” commented DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “This is a list of specific steps DC Water, residents and businesses, and other parts of the government are taking and can take to reduce the effects of runoff and flooding.”

In addition, DC Water and Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie are in communication about coordinating a multi-entity examination of this problem. District and federal agencies with jurisdiction over streets and alleys, stormwater management, plumbing codes, insurance and flood plains, and residents, all have a part in this discussion.

DC Water will also attend a special meeting of the Bloomingdale Civic Association on Saturday, August 4 at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 160 U Street, NW in the basement.

Another reader sends a note from Teri Janine Quinn, President, Bloomingdale Civic Association:

We met with DC Water during the Bloomingdale Civic Association held this past Monday. Many residents were underwhelmed by DC Water’s presentation. We agreed to host a second public meeting with DC Water on Saturday, August 4th (time and location to be determined). It is troubling to know that many residents just experienced flooding for the third time in less than two weeks. It has become painfully obvious that we cannot wait indefinitely for solution.

As an initial matter, we need to get a better understanding of how many residents have been impacted and the scope of the damage. These questions were asked of DC Water during our meeting but the representatives were unable to provide clear and concise responses and have not since followed up with additional data. Even if DC Water provides information regarding the impact and scope of the damage, unless we assess the problem on our own we will have no way of evaluating the accuracy of their data. As such, Please find below a link to a brief survey (10 questions) for residents who have experienced flooding. You do not need to complete the survey if you have not experienced flooding. In addition, we only need one survey completed per address. The information we collect will be useful in discussions with DC Water and elected officials. As such, if you have experienced flooding recently or in past years, please complete the survey as soon as possible but not later than Wednesday, July 25th. Here’s the link to the survey:

Bloomingdale/LeDroit Park Flooding Survey

It’s Gonna Be Hot Again – Pools Staying Open Late on Tuesday, July 17 & Wednesday, July 18

By Prince Of Petworth

From DPR:

Today DPR announced, due to the expected high temperatures, DPR has extended the operating hours at select District pools for Tuesday, July 17 and Wednesday, July 18, 2012. According to the National Weather Service, Tuesday and Wednesday will bring extremely high temperatures and high humidity. Residents are encouraged to stay inside if possible.

To help residents beat the heat, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will extend evening hours at select pools. All outdoor pools will continue to observe their regularly scheduled closure day as indicated below, but some will provide extended hours of operations in the evening.

The following pools will extend hours of operation until 8:30 pm.

Full list after the jump. (more…)

Serious Flooding in Bloomingdale

By Prince Of Petworth

@ColonelKSpeaks sends the shot of the flooding from Rhode Island Ave, NW between 1st and 2nd Street.

Update More photos from folks at Boundary Stone (1st and Rhode Island Ave, NW). I’m happy to report that Boundary Stone remains dry and open!

Check out the Fire Department. I’m told they have boats and scuba gear:

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Friday Question of the Day – Rating Pepco

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Day 5 of no power, but Pepco installs a street light!

How is it that Pepco sends out a crew everyday this week to install a street light when the residents of the street are STILL WITHOUT POWER?! How dare they brag about restoring 90%!”

Another resident has started a change.org petition with over 1500 hundred signatures as of Thurs. evening:

Pepco makes millions in profit but remains one of the most unreliable utility companies in America. Add your voice to the demand that Pepco invest their profits in burying the power lines and making our power system more reliable and safe.

In the first 3 months of this year the utility company Pepco made $68 million in profit. In 2009 the CEO of Pepco, Joe Rigby, made $2.9 million in personal income.

My neighbor is 70 years old, her name is Kay, and she has now been without power for 4 days in this sweltering heat. (Update: Kay told me this morning that her dog is acting really sluggish and she is worried the dog might die).

For almost $3 million a year, Joe Rigby needs to be held to account. We demand, on behalf of all the seniors, poverty-stricken and children, that Pepco immediately begin investing their profits in improving our power and implement a long term solution to these unacceptable delays.

For instance, Pepco could commit to a 5 year plan to bury the power lines in their service areas which would greatly improve reliability during massive wind storms and blizzards.

Invest your profits in your customers!

And in the tradition of the Cabin Fever video from Snowmaggadeon 2010, other readers send in a video voicing their frustration (NSFW) in song about Pepco:

But on the other hand we’ve seen Pepco employees working through the 4th of July and scorching heat.

Do you think Pepco is to blame for taking so long to restore to power to 100% of its users? Or is this just the unfortunate reality of a huge storm and living in an area with lots of trees and above ground wires?

Dear PoPville – Help Raise Money For Our Friend, Carolina, Severly Injured in Friday’s Storm

By Prince Of Petworth


Carolina and her parents

Dear PoPville,

A friend of ours was riding home on her motorcycle up 15th on Meridian Hill not knowing the storm was coming this past Friday. A tree fell on her and she is paralyzed from the chest down. We are rallying for as much help as we can get to assist her family with medical bills and relocation to Washington, DC.

A note from her friends:

Carolina was in a terrible accident this past Friday night. She was coming home from Virginia after just getting a massage. It was around 11pm and she was traveling up 15th street on her motorcycle. The storm came in out of nowhere and the winds and debris were terrible. As she was traveling slowly up the hill on 15 near Meridian Hill Park a large pine tree came crashing down on top of her. She was crushed by the tree and knocked off her bike. Thanks to some very amazing people who live across the street they were able to lift the tree off of her and chase down a passing ambulance to get her immediate help. She was rushed to GW hospital. She was in joking spirit when we saw her this morning. She went into surgery this afternoon around 1pm and came out around 7pm. We found out today after surgery that she has a severed spinal chord at T7 and is permanently paralyzed from her chest down. They put 2 rods and numerous screws in her spine for support. She has 5 broken ribs, a fractured shoulder blade, some trauma to her lungs causing bleeding so she will have some assistance breathing overnight and some slight bleeding on her brain and some other minor injuries. She will need some time to recover and should be in the ICU for another few days. She will then be moved to a regular room within the hospital. She will then need rehabilitation to build her upper body strength in order for her to make the adjustments. She has a long road ahead of her and will need a lot of love and support. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

More info here.

Make donations here.


Meridian Hill Park

Death Investigation for Friday Night’s Storm following a report of a tree down and an unconscious male in the 3000 Block of Woodland Drive, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


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From MPD:

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch is investigating the death of an adult male that occurred in the 3000 block of Woodland Drive, NW.

On Friday, June 29, 2012, at approximately 11:10 pm, members of the Second District responded to the 3000 block of Woodland Drive, NW for a report of a tree down and an unconscious male. Upon arrival, they located an adult male lying on the ground. They also located an adult female who suffered from burns to her body from an apparent power line that was down. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived on the scene and transported both victims to a local hospital. The adult male subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The cause of death is pending an autopsy. The adult female was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.

The decedent is identified as 67-year-old Mohammad Ghafoorian, of Northwest, Washington D.C.

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