Prince William

Woodbridge, Va. — More than two months after flood waters ravaged a Woodbridge neighborhood, and after federal assistance was once denied, victims can now breathe a sigh of relief.

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell said late Thursday the Federal Emergency Management Agency reversed a previous decision and approved federal disaster funds for Prince William County, which can then be distributed to the flood victims in the Holly Acres Mobile Home Park off U.S. 1. Prince William was one of eight counties to get federal assistance, including Fairfax, King George and Westmoreland counties, after Tropical Storm Lee brought flooding rains to the region Sept. 8 and 9.

WASHINGTON – Offices in Fairfax and Prince William Counties are scheduled to open Wednesday for homeowners, renters, and business in Northern Virginia impacted by Tropical Storm Lee to apply for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Congressman Connolly said Tuesday.

Connolly said the two offices will be open from 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays from November 16 through November 22.

Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department reminds residents that one easy step can help save their lives and the lives of those around them. Twice a year change the batteries in their own smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, test the alarms and remind friends, family, neighbors and fellow community members to do the same.

Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year, but, everyone can work together to help reduce the number of home fire fatalities. Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation and 66 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn or missing batteries.

The crash happened just before 5 p.m. in the Occoquan Oaks neighborhood in Prince William County, off Bacon Race Road.

The 53-year-old victim was taken with injuries that did not appear to be life threatening to the Prince William County Government Center where a helicopter was waiting to take him an area trauma center, said Dale City Volunteer Fire Department spokesman Steve Chappell.