With Hurricane Sandy approaching the east coast, the City of Manassas is preparing to keep the city safe. 

The City of Manassas Public Works and Utilities crews have been cleaning out storm sewers in preparation of the hurricane.

Public Works crews are also monitoring the lake level to prevent downstream flooding.  Eighty percent of City of Manassas power lines are underground. 

This should help to prevent most power outages.  Should residents have a power outage, call 703-257-8353.

The Manassas City Police Department has canceled all training activities for Monday and Tuesday.  This will allow for more officers on the street to assist residents. 

The City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department Emergency Management staff will be monitoring the storm throughout the weekend. Fire and rescue personnel will be checking equipment and preparing for extended operations. 

Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue will have swift water rescue response boats and equipment staffed and available to assist the City of Manassas and the region should they be needed.

The following are ideas for preparing for Hurricane
Sandy:

• Stock emergency supply kits (including extra batteries, etc.). Don’t wait until the last minute to shop for supplies.
• Stay Informed:  Have a NOAA Weather Radio at home and at your worksite. Like a smoke
  alarm, NOAA Weather Radios sound when there is an emergency in your area. You
  can also sign up for weather alerts and emergency messages by visiting
  https://alert.manassasva.gov/index.php?CCheck=1.
• Keep up to date with local conditions – follow TV and radio reports from your area, or visit www.weather.gov (http://mobile.weather.gov on your phone) for the latest forecast.
• Make a Plan - You can design your family emergency plan at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
• Be sure friends and family know how to contact you in an emergency. Teach family members how to use text messaging, because text messages can often get through when a phone call won’t.
• Clean out your gutters and storm drains to improve the flow of rain waters, and reduce possible flooding and ponding situations.
• Hurricanes bring heavy rains, storm surges, and
  possible flooding. Avoid walking or driving through any flooded areas – it takes only six inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult, and two feet to move a vehicle. Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
• Power outages and flooding may happen as a result of a tropical storm or hurricane, so have a plan for keeping food safe. Have a cooler on hand to keep food cold, and group food together in the freezer so it stays cold longer.

You can follow the Sandy forecast from the National
Hurricane Center:

• Website: www.hurricanes.gov
• Mobile Site: http://hurricanes.gov/mobile
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/US.NOAA.NationalHurricaneCenter.gov

Follow the City of Manassas a www.manassascity.org/facebook
or www.twitter.com/cityofmanassas.