Photo by PoPville flickr user Columbia Heights Climber
Yikes, what a way to start the work week (for most). Were most of you able to come in to work late? How long did it take to get into work?
Photo by PoPville flickr user Columbia Heights Climber
weather
“Dear PoP,
My mid-sized condo building is looking for a reliable snow removal company. Would you mind asking the community if they have any recommendations?”
“Dear PoP,
I’ve been getting a slew of ‘Alert DC’ notifications about water main breaks the past few weeks. While the weather has been getting cold, even dropping below freezing now, surely it’s not cold enough for these breaks to be caused by freezing water bursting the pipes. I’d be curious if any PoP readers know why we’re seeing all of these water main breaks.”
When I posted about a recent one in Mt. Pleasant a representative of DC Water gave an explanation:
“PoP Readers,
Across the country, a water main breaks every two minutes on average. Here in the District of Columbia, we average slightly more than one a day, but far more in the early winter months. The median age of a water main in the District is 75 years, with a good number installed during the Civil War era. As you probably know from the extensive media coverage this week, the combination of old pipes and quickly changing air temperature makes water main breaks more likely.
In the budget and rate structure approved by our Board to begin this past October, DC Water is set to replace 1 percent – or approximately 11 miles – of the District’s cast-iron water mains each year. This is not as fast as we would like, but it is triple the previous replacement rate and twice the national average. It will also mean many, many more torn-up streets than before.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80
From a Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Press Release:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will make opening remarks today at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Levee Groundbreaking at 10:00 a.m. at 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, after securing $5.8 million for construction of the levee. Recently, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated its 1985 Flood Insurance Rate Map, which identifies Special Flood Hazard Areas in the District of Columbia and throughout the U.S. The map outlines potential flood zones in the SE and SW areas of the District, surrounding the U.S. Capitol and monuments, and required residents within the 100-year flood zones to obtain flood insurance, temporarily, until a portable levee is constructed in the area around 17th Street and Constitution Avenue.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Jess J
“Dear PoP,
Anticipating today’s rain, the dept of public works was handing out sandbags last night. However, each household was limited to 4, yes FOUR sandbags…Four sandbags would do what, exactly?…!?!?!
The District Department of Public Works will once again be handing out sandbags Wednesday. D.C. residents may pick up sandbags up to four per household at its New Jersey Avenue and K Street, SE site. (The entrance is on New Jersey at I Street, SE.) The sandbags, which weigh between 40 and 50 lbs, can be picked up until 8 p.m. Residents will need to load them into their vehicles.”
Has anyone gotten the sandbags? If you only get four where should you place them for greatest effect?
From a press release:
Heavy rains caused flooding, road closures and other problems this morning, and weather forecasts are predicting more wet weather could hit the District during this evening’s rush hour. The National Weather service says heavy rainfall is possible and a flood watch remains in effect.
Residents and commuters are reminded to use caution in storm conditions. Flash floods from small creeks and streams can inundate highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots. Please do not drive through high water; turn around and find a safer route.
Flooding was the major problem reported across the region this morning. In the District, standing water forced the temporary closure of several roadways including Canal Road, which remains closed at this time between Foxhall Road and Arizona Avenue. Fortunately, only a handful of traffic signals lost power and only a few downed trees were reported. Please continue to call 311 to report storm-related damage.
For frequent updates on road conditions in the District, please follow us on Twitter @DDOTDC.
Photo from last week’s flood in Bloomingdale
“Dear PoP,
Question for your readers: The deluge of rain lately has caused some minor flooding in our basement for the first time since we moved in a year ago. We don’t know where to start: gutters, the slope of the ground leading up to the house, the structure itself… Any tips? Any contractors or companies to recommend who could take a look?”
I learned the hard way that you always have to check and clean your gutters. Some gutter recommendations were made here.
What else should be done to prevent flooding in your basement?
Mad props to twitter user tikidaisy for tracking down the sinkhole we’d been reading about earlier in the day on Thurs. And thanks to DDOTDC for providing the location:
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Flooding in Bloomingdale photo from Tom
We’re getting our asses kicked in this summer’s weather wars. I don’t often get awed by a simple rainstorm, but I’m fairly certain I cried for my mommy this morning, from the safety of my home…
Anyway, as you can imagine things are a mess. A brief survey of twitter shows power outages, traffic issues (including Georgia Ave, NW), trees down, metro stations closed (including Cleveland Park). We took a beating, not doubt about it.
A reader sends in the photo above from an alley off 13th St, NW.
And more flooding, Tom notes “with legit tides” from Bloomingdale:
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Thanks to all the readers who sent in photos of the devastation. It painful to see all these beautiful trees knocked down. It makes me appreciate the programs supported by Casey Trees that much more.
Mt. Pleasant
More photos and a press release from DDOT after the jump. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1
When I cried from the heat a couple weeks ago I stopped, splashed some water on myself and looked at myself in the mirror and said, “I will not cry from the heat again”. Today, I cried from the heat again. Damn you worthless ceiling fans…
But it’s not just me who’s crying. WMATA reports:
The excessive heat, forecast to reach record-setting temperatures in the region the remainder of this week, is impacting Metrorail service. A kink in the rail on the Red Line has resulted in speed restrictions through one stretch of track between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations.
Excessive heat sometimes forces Metro to take a precautionary safety measure to reduce speeds on the above-ground portions of the rail system. High temperatures can sometimes cause “heat kinks” on the rails. Heat kinks form when overheated tracks expand and cannot be constrained by the cross ties and ballast support the track. Metro track inspectors are closely monitoring rail conditions throughout the heat wave. If heat kinks are discovered, Metro will need to slow train speeds through the area to ensure safety.
Officials will continue to monitor conditions should other areas of track become impacted by the heat.
The record-breaking heat also may make rail stations and trains uncomfortable for passengers. Rail cars may feel overly warm due to more passengers on trains and the regular opening of doors at each station stop. When the doors open to let passengers in and out of the rail cars, cool air goes out the door and warm air enters the car. However, if riders find themselves on a rail car with no air conditioning, they should note the rail car number found on the exterior of the cars or on the bulkhead doors at either end of the car, and report the condition to Metro’s customer complaint phone line at 202-637-1328.
Underground rail stations also may seem warmer than usual during the heat wave. Warm air flows in through the open-air, street-level station entrances. In addition, trains entering underground stations from above ground stations pull in hot air from the outside as well. There is a misperception that Metrorail stations are air conditioned. Underground stations have chilled water air handling units, or chillers, not air conditioners, to cool the air. The Metrorail cooling system was developed in the 1970s to reflect energy conservation standards of the time. Temperatures in stations were designed to be up to 20 degrees cooler than outside temperatures.
At least we get more pool hours:
“All Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) outdoor pools are opening two hours early at 11 am and closing one hour later, by 9 pm. The following pools are operating on extended hours:
* Anacostia, 1800 Anacostia Drive, SE, (202) 724-1441
* Banneker, 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW, (202) 673-2121
* Benning Park, Southern Avenue and Fable Street, SE, (202) 645- 5044
* Douglass, Frederick Douglass Court and Stanton Terrace, SE, (202) 645- 5045
* Fort Dupont, Ridge Road and Burns Street, SE, (202) 645-5046
* Fort Stanton, 1800 Erie Street, SE, (202) 645- 5047
* Harry Thomas Sr., 1743 Lincoln Road, NE, (202) 541-7499
* Oxon Run, 4th Street and Mississippi Avenue, SE, (202) 645-5042
* Theodore R. Hagans Jr., 3201 Fort Lincoln Drive, NE, (202) 576-6389
* Volta Park (formerly Georgetown), 3400 Volta Place, NW, (202) 282-0381”