News Flash

ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (July 3, 2012) — The Roanoke County Administration Center on Bernard Drive in Roanoke will be closed the remainder of the week and possibly longer due to the recent power outage and mechanical issues connected to the building’s cooling and ventilation systems.

Because of the uncertainty of the building’s status next week, the Tuesday, July 10 Board of Supervisors meeting has been canceled at the recommendation and agreement of County Administrator Clay Goodman and Board Chairman Richard Flora. The Board will hold a special meeting at a later date to vote to ratify the declaration of a “State of Emergency” – action necessary in order for Roanoke County to be eligible for possible state and national grants, loans, and reimbursements related to storm damage.

The following are the other public departments impacted by the Administration Center closure: Community Development, Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue, Registrar, and Real Estate Valuation. A temporary location will remain in place the remainder of the week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Roanoke County’s Brambleton Center at 3738 Brambleton Ave. to process building permits.

Citizens in need of drinking water can fill their containers and pick up free bottled water at six Roanoke County Fire and Rescue stations from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through Friday. Citizens must bring their own containers to fill with water. The following is a list of the Fire and Rescue Stations where citizens can go to fill up on water: Hollins, Catawba, Clearbrook, Fort Lewis, Mason Cove, and Back Creek.

Roanoke County would like to thank Lowe’s Home Improvement and the Western Virginia Water Authority for providing free bottled water for citizens. This morning, a representative from Lowes contacted Roanoke County to make arrangements to provide 16 pallets of bottled water free of charge for residents. Each pallet holds 60 cases of water. “We want to thank Lowe’s and the Water Authority for their generous gift. It’s very considerate of Lowe’s and the Water Authority to assist our citizens during this power outage.”

Roanoke County’s solid waste crews will pick up brush only on Wednesday, July 4 for residents on the County’s “A-Week” trash collection schedule. Crews are working the July 4 holiday as a way to get caught up on the large amount of brush generated as a result of the storm. On Monday alone, solid waste crews collected approximately 85 tons of brush with eight trucks in the field – that’s five times the amount of brush collected on an average day.

“The damage from this storm is similar to hurricanes and other tropical storms we’ve experienced,” said General Services Director Anne Marie Green. “We are asking that citizens be patient as we continue to collect bulk and brush left after the storm. I’m really proud of the work our crews have done so far, and I think our statistics show how hard they are working to clean up the County as fast as possible.”

Roanoke County residents with no transportation and no medical conditions requiring treatment can receive free transportation to an Evacuation Shelter set up at the Roanoke Civic Center. Van transportation will be available throughout the day until 10 p.m. tonight, with transportation to the shelter continuing through Thursday, July 5. Roanoke County residents who need a ride to the Evacuation Shelter are asked to call the Roanoke County Emergency Information Line at (540) 777-8798.