Woodbridge, Va. — Almost a precursor of things to come, a project map depicting a wider U.S. 1 shows the Holly Acres Mobile Home Park being flooded and made into a retention pond sitting in a flood plain.
Holly Acres, located along Marumsco Creek in Woodbridge off U.S. 1, flooded last week not from a man-made event but did so after rains from Tropical Storm Lee inundated the region and putting the neighborhood and surrounding businesses under 10 feet of water. Nearly 100 people were forced from their homes and into a Red Cross shelter at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center.
The map, produced by the Virginia Department of Transportation in March, is featured on the transportation agency’s website for a $236 million project to widen highway from four to six lanes. But residents now reeling after their homes were condemned, they already know what their neighborhood looks like underwater.
“We want a new home. We need help from [Prince William County officials], we need help finding a new home,” said Patricia Ochoa
Ochoa and 30 to 40 other families have until Friday to find a new place to live as the Red Cross shelter they are in will close permanently. Several funds have been set up for the victims, but on Tuesday they demanded county officials keep the shelter open longer.
“We requested an extension for keeping the shelter open, all the people who lose everything will get some economic assistance, help them find a home,” said Ricardo Juarez with Mexicans Without Borders. “We’re not asking for one week or two weeks, we are asking [for officials to keep it open] until they get a new home.”
County officials say they are doing all they can to help the victims, but apparently Prince William Board Chair Corey Stewart says the federal government should step in and do more.
Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell declared a state of emergency after the flood waters receded, but it’s not enough to prompt an automatic federal response.
“…To my knowledge he has not yet made a request through FEMA for a federal major disaster or emergency declaration,” Connolly stated in a letter to Stewart and county officials. “Given this set of facts, it would be appropriate for Prince William County to ask Governor McDonnell to request a federal major disaster or emergency declaration,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11, Fairfax, Prince William).
Connolly also offered his help in drafting a letter to the governor asking for federal assistance for the county.
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