Politics & Government

LCSO: Avoid Travel, Stay Indoors

Loudoun County Sheriff's Office gives flooding tips as Hurricane Sandy approaches Northern Virginia.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's office is asking residents to stay off the roads and brace for possible evacuations as Hurricane Sandy approaches and weather conditions worsen over the next few hours.

In a release Monday, the office said Loudoun County officials are preparing for tropical storm force winds and flooding in low-lying areas. 

Sheriff's deputies "have already responded to several traffic signals experiencing a power outage in the county," the office wrote. "Motorists are reminded that when approaching an intersection where no law enforcement is present and the traffic signals are off due to power failure, that intersection must be treated as a four-way stop. Please be patient as widespread power outages are expected for our region and the slow moving storm may hinder utility crews from restoring power until weather conditions improve."

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

An email sent out by LCSO on Monday asked residents to:

  • Avoid travel on roadways unless absolutely necessary
  • Stay indoors 
  • Stay informed about the latest weather information by following media reports and monitoring the National Weather Service for the latest forecast.

For those that have to go on the roads, it says:

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

  • "Never walk or drive through a flooded area. 
  • Stay away from flooded areas and seek higher ground if you are in an area experiencing flooding. It takes only six inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult and two feet to move a vehicle."

At home:

  • Secure outdoor furniture and other outdoor items before the storm hits -- not after it arrives. 
  • Stay away from windows and glass doors and find a safe area in the interior of your home.
  • If your home is threatened by flooding, turn off electricity at the main breaker.
  • Do not use electrical appliances.
  • If you lose power, turn off major appliances to minimize damage.
  • Stay inside! You could be struck and seriously injured or even killed by flying debris or falling trees.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here