Soggy Spring

Anyone else as sick of this rain as I am? We're supposed to get a brief break Tuesday and Wednesday before the rain returns Thursday. And how about the cold? Our high today is forecast to be 48 degrees. Our average low for May 12 is 49.

Got a mysterious email from ArlingtonAlert.com titled "Food Warning in Effect." During the few seconds it took for the email to open, I thought, "Why is the food only a threat short term? Will the food be OK after the warning is lifted?"

Oh, typos. You never fail to amuse me.

If you haven't signed up for Arlington Alert yet, it's definitely worth it. Once I was in Boston and was alerted to the fact that my flight home would be delayed by snow in DC by an Arlington Alert text message. Didn't clear the runways any faster, but at least let me know I didn't need to break my neck getting to the airport.

Sunday Traffic Alert: Marine Corps Marathon

A traffic heads up from ArlingtonAlert.com:

The Marine Corps marathon will take place on Sunday, October 28, 2007. Many roads will be closed on the east side of the County (in Rosslyn, Pentagon, Pentagon City and Crystal City areas). Also, extra security measures will be in place. Residents and motorists can expect delays and should allow extra travel time in those areas. For detailed information and maps for Marathon day road closures in Arlington, click here (PDF) or see the abbreviated list below.

4:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
All of Route 110 will be closed in both directions
Meade Street from Fairfax Drive to Marshall Drive will be closed
No access to Lynn or Meade Street from Rt. 50
Lynn Street will be closed from Route 50 to 19th Street
Ft. Meyer Drive will be closed from 19th to Route 50
Fairfax Drive will be closed from Ft. Myer to Queen Street
North Moore Street from 19th to Wilson Blvd. will be accessible to buses only
4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wilson Blvd. will be closed east of Nash Street
4:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Washington Blvd. Eastbound closed at 395
4:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Washington Blvd. Westbound closed
7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Key Bridge closed
7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Eastbound Lee Hwy, will be closed, Kirkwood to Lynn Street
Westbound Lee Hwy closed from Scott to Kirkwood (closed to through traffic local traffic can have access by taking Scott to Veitch, citizens leaving the area can use W/B lee to Spout Run and exit the area via the G/W Pky.)
7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Southbound 395 HOV lanes closed from D.C.
7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Army/Navy Drive closed from Fern to S. 12th Street
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
South 12th from Eads to Crystal Drive closed; local traffic permitted Eads to
Army/Navy Drive
Crystal Drive closed from 12th to 23rd Streets
Rotary Road closed throughout South parking
Columbia Pike closed at Joyce Street (access to Pentagon via Boundary Channel)

NOTE: Also, the Fern Street, Hayes Street and Eads Street Pentagon Parking lots will be closed beginning 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 26 and remain closed until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 28.

Anyone running in the Marathon this weekend? I can manage a 5K, but that's about it.

West Nile Detected in Lyon Park (Near Clarendon)

Got this alert from Arlington County:

West Nile virus-infected Asian Tiger mosquitoes, which are human-biting mosquitoes, have been detected in the Lyon Park neighborhood. Because of the type of mosquito involved, Arlington County Health officials are taking steps to reduce the population of West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes on public property.

The Environmental Health Bureau of Arlington County will conduct backpack spraying on public property in parts of the Lyon Park neighborhood as early as Thursday, September 13; the exact date and time of the spraying will be determined by the weather. The spray dries within an hour after application and poses little risk to humans. Spraying will take place within the following boundaries: Arlington Blvd, N. Fillmore St., 3rd St., Washington Blvd. Corner of Arlington Blvd and N. Irving St. If it rains, or threatens to rain, staff will delay spraying until clear weather.

Take precautions to reduce mosquito exposure and mosquito breeding. Use mosquito repellent when outdoors in areas where mosquitoes are active. Use products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) such as products containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. [...]

Note: To date, one human case of West Nile virus has been identified in Arlington County this year.

If you're not registered to receive these messages, sign up on the Arlington Alert website!

Arlington Alert: Keeping My Socks Dry

Last Friday night, some friends and I were getting ready to leave Eleventh in Clarendon, wondering if it was going to rain. Just then, I got this email from Arlington Alert:

Update / National Weather forecast reports a Severe Thunder Storm Warning for the District and surrounding Jurisdiction until 9:45 PM.

Before I worked in TV news, I didn't know the difference between a storm watch and a storm warning.

Basically, a watch means conditions are right for you to eventually get that type of storm (thunderstorm, tornado, even a hurricane), but that doesn't necessarily mean you will get the storm (or even anything at all). A warning means if it ain't there already, it's gonna be soon, so seek shelter.

So the warning meant we might not have time to get to our cars before getting drenched. Sure enough, within minutes there was wind, lightning, and pouring rain. We took our time finishing our beers, let the storm pass, and were on our way.

And that's the beauty of Arlington Alert -- it gives me the simple, clear information I need to help me avoid major pains in the butt.

Just in the last month, I've gotten these useful alerts:

- That there were emergency drills planned at the Pentagon and not to freak out
- That there was a bike race in Clarendon and to avoid driving there
- I got one while I was at work that power was out in my neighborhood (it was restored by the time I got home, but still, nice to be in the loop)

When you sign up, you can tailor your alerts to your needs:

* How you get them (text message, email, etc.)
* What kind of information you get (lots of advisories or only the critical stuff)
* What locations impact you (if you work downtown, you can even get DC alerts)

Of course Arlington Alert will also be critical if there's a major disaster. But if I told you to sign up based on that, I'd be selling the system short. Major disasters may only come once a decade, but Arlington Alert is useful practically every week.

Sign up now!