January 24, 2026
Please stay safe during the snow event. If your power goes out, please report it to Dominion at 866-366-4357 or go to https://dominionenergy.com/virginia/report-outage-or-emergency . The more people that report it, the better response we will get. They will put our area lower on the list if only a dozen people report an outage with 100 people without power.
With wind chill in the single digits Sunday morning, it will be difficult to stay warm while shoveling snow. If you can help a neighbor who might not be physically able to shovel their driveway and sidewalk, please try to help them out. Salt will not work below 15 degrees. Please consider putting sand, kitty litter, and coffee grounds on sidewalks to provide traction on icy sidewalks.
With sleet and freezing rain to follow the snow, the roads will be extremely dangerous. Please do not think your 4WD vehicle can stop on ice. If you do not know how to maneuver your car when it starts to veer/slide/spin, then do not drive in the first place. You put yourself and other at risk and could prevent fire and rescue staff from getting to real emergencies. If you do drive, please clear ALL snow off your vehicle. Start with the roof, then the hood and headlights, then the trunk, and finally the windshield and windows.
1 – Storm information
2 – Report price gouging due to the storm
3 – ECHO News
4 – Latest scams
5 – Holiday decoration winners
6 – Calendar
1 – Here is contact information to keep in mind:
Emergency:
- Police, Fire, Ambulance Emergency: call or text 9-1-1
- Public Safety Non-Emergency: (703) 691-2131
- Fairfax County Emergency Information Line: (703) 817-7771
Roads:
- Fairfax County Road Maintenance: (703) 877-2800 | TTY 711
- VDOT: 1 (800) 367-7623
- Report downed trees and wires
- VDOT's Plow Tracker map.
Utilities:
- Washington Gas Emergency Line: (844) 927-4427
- Dominion Energy: 1 (866) 366-4357
- Report power outages to Dominion Energy or view the Outage Map
- Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC): 1 (888) 335-0500
- Fairfax Water: (703) 698-5613 - Visit fairfaxwater.org to learn about how to protect your water pipes, report a water main break, and more.
- Fairfax County's Guide to Snow has street snow removal resources, a link for the County's operating status, snow shoveling tips, and more.
- Cox: To report an outage, call: 1-800-234-3993
County:
Subscribe to Fairfax Alerts for official updates on public safety, traffic, weather, and emergency preparedness.
Check the County Government and Schools' operating status.
Fairfax County's Hypothermia Prevention Program is operating now. If you see someone who is unsheltered and you think is at risk for hypothermia, call (703) 691-2131 | TTY 711.
- This is the non-emergency police number. A police officer will respond and conduct a wellness check. Learn more about the program on the County website.
State Emergency Resources:
Federal Emergency Resources:
Information on VDOT’s road plowing system:
Crews prioritize interstate highways, major roads, and main subdivision roads. After a storm ends, VDOT aims to have plowed one passable lane on all roads within the following time frames:
- 2-4" of snow: 24 hours
- 4-6" of snow: 48 hours
- 6" or more: 72 hours
To assist with plowing on your street, if possible, consider moving vehicles off the street before the storm.
A road in "passable" condition is defined as:
- An 8- to 10-foot-wide path that provides access for emergency vehicles
- Driveable with extreme caution, but is snow-packed, and it is not bare pavement or plowed curb-to-curb
- Crews will sand hills, curves, and intersections to help with traction
- Major roads and thoroughfares are plowed prior to neighborhood streets being plowed.
- If there is an emergency, 911 operators work with VDOT to ensure access for emergency vehicles
2 - The office of Attorney General Jay Jones has guidance for consumers who believe they’re the victims of price gouging. Consumers can contact Attorney General Jay Jones’ Consumer Protection Section for additional information or to file a complaint.
By phone: (800)-552-9963
By email: consumer@oag.state.va.us
Online Complaint Form Link
3 – From ECHO’s latest newsletter:
Donating to ECHO
ECHO, 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22150, is open to receive donations of household goods, clothing and non-perishable food from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as one Saturday morning a month which varies, but is noted on our website www.echo-inc.org.
ECHO is proud to distribute goods that are clean and in good condition. Sometimes, we are short of certain staple foods, hygiene supplies, or vital clothing such as winter coats, and we purchase them to serve our clients adequately. Donors enable our mission by making financial contributions in addition to donations of food and housewares. Donations by check may be mailed to our address. Donations by credit card may be made through our website. See the “Donate” tab at the top of our homepage.
Currently, we need infant clothes (0-6 months), children’s and men’s sneakers, new underwear in men’s sizes 32/34, men’s winter coats in small and medium. Our Housewares Department has an ongoing need for sheets and comforters in King and Queen sizes as well as for pots and pans in medium and large sizes.
Some Donations That Don’t Cost Anything
ECHO’s Food Pantry uses paper grocery bags and plastic sleeves that are used for home-delivered newspapers. While these are things one might normally recycle or discard, we ask you to save them for ECHO and donate when you have a stack or when you have other things to bring to our Donation Door.
Currently, our Food Pantry especially needs Masa flour, spaghetti sauce, lemon juice, canned fruits packed in juice, laundry detergent, shampoo and deodorant, but we can use all types of non-perishable foods and hygiene items. Please choose “regular” sizes, not giant-sized products. Remember that, for safety purposes, ECHO cannot distribute foods that are past an expiration date or that have been opened or re-packaged.
Upcoming food drives: There will be a Stuff-the-Bus Event to collect food and hygiene donations for ECHO on Saturday, March 14, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Huntsman Giant, 7501 Huntsman Blvd., Springfield. Springfield United Methodist Church is holding a food drive for ECHO on Saturday, March 21, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the church parking lot at 7047 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, (next to the county parking garage).
Volunteer Opportunities
ECHO has some intriguing volunteer positions for a few people who would be interested in leadership roles. These, of course, would require a larger commitment than a weekly shift. The positions would be most appropriate for people who, in other organizations, perhaps, have enjoyed the challenges of team building and problem-solving. Want to put your skills and expertise to work for a great cause? Does this sound like you? Contact our Volunteer Coordinator through our website at www.echo-inc.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/. Other weekly opportunities to work with clients or donations are also listed on this webpage.
Upcoming Dates to Note
February 7 - Saturday Opening
February 11 - Exec Comm meets
February 16 - Closed for Presidents Day
February 23 - Bd of Dir Meet
March 7 - Saturday Opening
March 14 - Stuff the Bus at Huntsman Giant
March 16-18 - Clothing changeover to spring/summer
March 21 - Food Drive, Springfield Methodist parking lot
Congregational and Other Food Drives
February - Abiding Presence Lutheran
March - Prince of Peace Lutheran, Springfield United Methodist
For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click any of the links below:
ECHO Food and Clothing Amazon Wish List
4 – A new scam is someone “accidentally” sending you a payment through an online service. You are a nice person and refund the money back. The money sent to you was from a stolen credit card, so the payment sent is voided and you lose that money along with the money you sent back. If you see a payment sent to you that you are not aware of, ignore it and avoid responding to people asking for the money back.
A neighbor sent me this recently:
Today we had a door-to-door solicitor for “Teen Legacy“ - a high school aged girl was asking for donations. I believe it’s a scam, as I looked up the organization and found this recent article:
https://mocoshow.com/2025/11/26/maryland-ag-youth-charity-misled-donors-and-violated-charitable-giving-laws/
5 – We had two people respond with candidates, so here are the winners:
Tied for first are 8135 Springfield Village Dr. and 6912 Ontario St.
Second is 6806 Hathaway St.
Third is 6813 Brisbane St.
6 – Calendar
2/2 – Groundhog Day
2/14 – Valentine’s Day
2/16 – Presidents’ Day – Federal and County Holiday
2/17 – Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse)