Is Fort Belvoir Always Closed This Long for Bad Weather? (live, cars) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

mikecart1 · 10-30-2012, 03:54 PM

I heard last year they closed an entire week because of snow. Now they are closed again tomorrow. That is 3 days in a row. I drove from PA to VA yesterday in the hurricane weather and was the only one on the road for most of the way. Not to sound like a nerd but I'd like to go to work tomorrow lol!

slduvall · 10-30-2012, 04:17 PM

We didn't have any snow last year to speak of, it was a few years ago now that we had the big snowfall. The entire area shut down, feds included.

After the big storm last June they lost major power, as they did this time. Can't have people without power. Also, they do their own snow removal so it takes awhile to safely clear the roads on post to make them passible. A few years ago there was just no where to put the snow, and to clear the parking lots quick enough, lots of cars on belvoir.

CAVA1990 · 10-30-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slduvall

After the big storm last June they lost major power, as they did this time. Can't have people without power.

Strange they'd be without power as the areas around the base didn't lose any.

Carlingtonian · 10-30-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Strange they'd be without power as the areas around the base didn't lose any.

Keep in mind Belvoir is a huge post. DLA, INSCOM, etc. are on the north end--at least a couple of miles from MDA, post HQ, Belvoir Community Hospital, DAU, JPRA, the Officers' Club, etc. Many buildings in the latter area date back to the late '20s. The former are mostly from the '70s and later.

And NGA is technically on Belvoir (though it's completely separate, on what used to be called the Engineering Proving Ground).

So maybe that explains it.

slduvall · 10-31-2012, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Strange they'd be without power as the areas around the base didn't lose any.

I believe they have their own power grid, there was a thing on their FB page after the big storm this summer about the power system and why it can take so long to bring it back up. You don't just flip a switch for the whole lot, it needs to be phased etc. Layman's terms here...

And the surrounding area did lose power, at least on the north side of post, I'm about 1/4 mile away and lost mine. Not sure how far south towards Telegraph the loss went, as I didn't go that way yesterday. That said, the US Army Corp of Engineers compound right near Hayfield didn't lose it, as they are on the local grid.

racergirl · 10-31-2012, 10:31 AM

The power company responsible for keeping power to the post told the post yesterday late afternoon that they wouldn't have the power back up until 11pm TONIGHT. So they didn't want a ton of people driving on post with no way to sustain them with no power (no traffic lights, no amenities, no heat in bldgs, etc) with 65% of the post without power-a completely rational decision. At least the power company "overdelivered" and "underpromised" as the power was back on within 3 hours of the statement from them that it would be 2300 Tonight. It's not really any one's fault-just mother nature.

mikecart1 · 10-31-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racergirl

The power company responsible for keeping power to the post told the post yesterday late afternoon that they wouldn't have the power back up until 11pm TONIGHT. So they didn't want a ton of people driving on post with no way to sustain them with no power (no traffic lights, no amenities, no heat in bldgs, etc) with 65% of the post without power-a completely rational decision. At least the power company "overdelivered" and "underpromised" as the power was back on within 3 hours of the statement from them that it would be 2300 Tonight. It's not really any one's fault-just mother nature.

Hopefully we can all go back to work tomorrow.