Posted on 02/23/2003 6:24:35 AM PST by Chairman_December_19th_Society
VAZ052-053-232200-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED FLOOD WATCH...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 912 AM EST SUN FEB 23 2003
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT ON THE LOWER OCCOQUAN RIVER...
IN VIRGINIA PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK FAIRFAX
AS OF 830 THIS MORNING...THE DAM OPERATOR AT THE UPPER DAM AT OCCOQUAN REPORTED WATER RISING RAPIDLY...AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CONTROL FLOW OVER THE SPILLWAY. NO FLOODING WAS OCCURING AT THIS TIME. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM ON THE OCCOUQAN RIVER AT OCCUQUAN.
RESIDENTS THAT LIVE DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM AT OCCOQUAN SHOULD PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD WATER BEGIN TO RISE OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
$$ MANNING
If they are in a potential flash flood area they should get out now. They might not have time if they don't.
A very slightly earlier version read...
VAZ052-053-232200- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 840 AM EST SUN FEB 23 2003 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR POTENTIAL DAM FAILURE... IN VIRGINIA PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK FAIRFAX AS OF 830 THIS MORNING...THE DAM OPERATOR AT OCCOQUAN REPORTED WATER RISING RAPIDLY...AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CONTROL FLOW OVER THE SPILLWAY. NO FLOODING WAS OCCURING AT THIS TIME. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR DAM FAILURE ON THE OCCOUQAN RIVER AT OCCUQUAN. RESIDENTS THAT LIVE DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM AT OCCOQUAN SHOULD PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD WATER BEGIN TO RISE OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. $$ MANNING
Once water is flowing uncontrollably over the top of a dam, the chance of structural damage and a failure increases significantly. While more modern dams are designed with these stresses in mind, some older ones are not.
It's much more dangerous with an earthen dam, but it's not a good thing with a concrete one either.
Literally in less than 10 minutes. As much snowpak as there is (still) around these parts and the amount of rain some of the area has had (where I live, we had nearly 4" yesterday), it might still be wise to pay attention.
Hopefully. Sometimes wishful thinking and a desire not to "cause panic" leads folks to omit (or in this case apparently retract) warnings. We had a major dam failure in GA about 20 years ago (again it was an earthen dam not a concrete one) where the local authorities were warned repeatedly that the dam was in poor condition and just ignored it because they didn't want to "cause a panic". They wound up having a heck of a panic when the dam was breached during a heavy rain and IIRC several hundred people died.
Did not know that. That's interesting.
Occoquan |
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When designing some of the new waterfront communities, the County first looked toward its existing successful riverfront community possessing small town charm and architectural character, namely Occoquan. For over 200 years the town has been developing into one of the County?s premier tourist destinations and all around wonderful residential communities. |
| Occoquan is derived from a Dogue Indian word meaning "at the end of the water". The Town of Occoquan was settled in 1753 with the official establishment occurring in 1804. It is Occoquan?s location, at the head of the tidewater, that made it a natural site for water-borne commerce from the earliest days of the settlement of Virginia. A variety of businesses and industries began as early as 1736 including a tobacco warehouse, a bake house, a saw mill, and the historic Merchant?s Mill. As time progressed other industries added to the vitality of the town including ship building, cotton and grist milling, and ice storage. From the very beginning, Occoquan was a location for shopping and commerce. |  |
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Today the Town of Occoquan offers both residents and tourists boating, fishing, fine shopping, acclaimed dining establishments, and most importantly a chance to experience a historic Virginia town still thriving well into the twentieth century. Some of the historic homes and businesses have been in continuous use for over 200 years. It is the County?s hope that the new town centers being developed just south of Occoquan on the Potomac will be able to build upon the vitality of existing town centers such as Occoquan so that from the Occoquan River all along the Potomac, a network of waterfront communities, each with distinct style and character will provide excellent recreational, residential, and commercial opportunities for all of Prince William County. |
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Occoquan is working strengthen its downtown in the shadow of improvements being done by the Virginia Department of Transportation to the Route 123 Bridge leading from Occoquan into Fairfax County. A committee of town residents, local business owners, elected officials, and County staff will investigate the implications of the new structure and prepare recommendations for improvements to the VDOT plans. |
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The future does look bright for Occoquan. The Town has been awarded several ISETEA grants. In July 1999, $200,000.00 was awarded for the Mill Street Transportation Improvement Project to provide enhanced vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle access through the Town of Occoquan, thereby fostering new construction and business development as well as greater access to historic buildings. In July 2000, $100,000.00 was awarded to complete the Occoquan Riverfront Boardwalk construction. An archeological dig of the area on the western side of Mill Street for the historic Merchant?s Mill is beginning. The possibility of linking Occoquan with the new town developments of Belmont Bay and Southbridge at Cherry Hill with a river jet ferry service into Washington, D.C. is being actively pursued by the County. |
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