Politics & Government

Del Ray, Rosemont Neighborhoods Weather Hurricane Irene

City crews working 12-hour shifts to remove downed trees and clear debris.

With memories of the August 2010 storm still fresh in the minds of Del Ray residents, Hurricane Irene’s entry into Northern Virginia on Saturday evening was cause for great concern.

But as Saturday became Sunday, the damage to Del Ray and surrounding areas appeared much more minimal than “Stormageddon” of last year, which cost the City of Alexandria almost $500,000.

A section of Leslie Avenue was blocked off Sunday morning after a utility pole came down near the intersection with E. Mt. Ida Avenue. Residents on nearby E. Del Ray Avenue said they never lost electricity.

Find out what's happening in Del Raywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

City spokesman Tony Castrilli said as of Sunday morning about 10,000 residents did not have electricity, but that number was dropping quickly.

"We’re stressing to people that they should call the 746 help line to report debris that is the city's responsibility," he said, referring to the city's Storm Hotline, 703-746-HELP. "We were fortunate that we didn’t experience any injuries and any major damage. There’s damage obviously, but not extensive damage.”

Find out what's happening in Del Raywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A few large trees came down in the Rosemont, but city crews were making quick work with chainsaws early in the morning.

A large tree on the first block of E. Rosemont Avenue fell sometime after midnight Saturday and left residents on the block without power. Residents brought their children down the street to take closer look at the tree removal.

The city's Emergency Operations Center staffed by city employees was up and running at noon on Saturday and Castrilli said he expects it will continue until about 6 p.m. Sunday.

City crews including staff from the departments of Transportation and Environmental Services as well as Parks and Recreation are on 12-hour shifts monitoring and cleaning up the city.

"They are evaluating and prioritizing based on what police department is seeing," Castrilli said.

The city handed out more than 10,000 sandbags to residents starting Friday, creating long lines at staging areas at Cora Kelly School and George Washington Middle School. Del Ray residents used them to divert water away from basement staircases and other areas prone to flooding.

“I was completely prepared,” said Karen Johnson, who lives on the corner of Dewitt and Stewart avenues. “I had my iPod charged and a big jug of water.”

On the eve of the storm, Johnson said she “commandeered” a landscaping crew working near her home to trim a branch that was hanging over a nearby power line.

“That’s what I love about living in this neighborhood,” she said.

• Sharon McLoone contributed to this report.


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