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TextTake Snow and Roof Safety Measures
Feb. 9, 2010
OPA 036/10
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As heavy snow continues to accumulate, the Fairfax County Snow and Roof Safety Web page offers important safety measures for flat roofs. If a roof has collapsed, call 9-1-1.
Information from the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services addresses:
Single Family Homes and Townhomes
If there is a flat roof, monitor the ceiling below and look for signs of roof distress. Evacuate if you notice any of these warning signs:
- Sagging ceiling beneath the flat roof.
- New cracks on ceiling drywall or plaster.
- Popping, cracking or creaking sounds.
- Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed.
Residents should not attempt to access their roofs to try to clear the snow due to the safety concerns of slipping off the roof and exposure to electrical wires. Residents should clear the areas around downspouts and roof drains so that melting water has a path to flow away from the house when the snow begins to melt.
Commercial Buildings
Most commercial buildings are designed to accommodate a roof snow load associated with 24 inches of dense, compact and/or wet snow. If there are any of the warning signs below, the building needs to be evacuated immediately:
- Sagging roof members including steel bar joists, metal decking, wood rafters, wood trusses and plywood sheathing.
- Popping, cracking and creaking sounds.
- Sagging ceiling tiles and/or sagging sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads.
- Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed.
Residents also may contact the Fairfax County Emergency Information Line at 703-817-7771, TTY 711 for more information; voice mail messages will be monitored and returned.
Emergency information and status updates are available on:
- Fairfax County’s Web site
- Emergency information phone line (703-817-7771)
- Community Emergency Alert Network (CEAN)
- Fairfax County Government Channel 16.
- In addition, 1670 AM, emergency radio for Fairfax County, is broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the National Weather Service.
Additional winter weather preparedness information can be found online. In addition, emergency contact numbers for public utilities is online should residents lose electricity, gas, telephone, cable, Internet or water service.
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