Fairfax County Emergency Information:

Last year, 51 tornadoes hit Virginia, the second highest number on record.

While Fairfax County government will be participating in our three-day tornado exercise described yesterday on this blog, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service are hosting the annual statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 20, at 9:45 a.m.

While we’re working in the county’s Emergency Operations Center on the tornado scenario, we’re asking you to participate in this simple statewide drill.

Businesses and organizations, schools and colleges, and families and individuals are encouraged to practice taking cover from tornadoes.

From: Official Fairfax County Government Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Information:

This past weekend, we witnessed the destruction and horror of one of Mother Nature’s most unpredictable and dangerous events – tornadoes. More than a month’s worth of tornadoes struck towns all across the country in one day leading to destroyed schools, shattered lives and most sadly of all, loss of life.

We’ve seen these scenes before, most notably last year in Joplin, Mo., and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

These scenes of destruction can happen right here in Fairfax County.**

That’s why from March 19-21, Fairfax County government will be conducting a three-day emergency exercise called “Operation: Enduring Collaboration.” The exercise scenario will be a major tornado outbreak. These three, 12-hour work shifts will not only sharpen our ability to respond, coordinate and plan for all emergencies better, but it will specifically call us to understand the potential power of tornadoes.

From the McLean Citizens Association, of which PHCA Treasurer Mark Kinnane is PHCA's representative:

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a new urban-oriented Comprehensive Plan for Tysons in June 2010 and the first rezoning application under the revised Plan in 2011. Thirteen other rezoning requests are pending before the Planning Commission. The 495 Express Lanes and the Silver Line are nearing completion. Tysons is changing. But into what? It’s time to find out what is coming.

The McLean Citizens Association is holding its Winter Membership meeting on Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 p.m., at the McLean Community Center. This year, we will host a panel discussion on Tysons Corner. Panelists will include two Tysons landowners/developers and two members of the Fairfax County staff with responsibilities for implementing the Tysons Comprehensive Plan.

The Pimmit Hills Citizens Association sent out their semi-occasional newsletter to the PHCA e-mailing list on March 1, 2012. Join the mailing list.

Spring is here very early in Pimmit Hills and we hope you are enjoying the wonderful weather! Our neighborhood is a great place to take walks, see the variety of our homes and find all the various parks hidden around in our community.

Here's a Pimmit Hills Citizens Association (PHCA) news update:

From Fairfax Times: The solution might seem simple. Freedom Hill Elementary School in Vienna exceeds its capacity by about 100 students. Neighboring Lemon Road Elementary School in Falls Church is about 100 students under capacity. Why not shift 100 students from Freedom Hill to Lemon Road?

From the Washington Post: Metro may a regionwide system, but its rail riders tend to think of themselves as patrons of a particular line. Tonight, when the transit authority holds the first of its fare increase hearings in Virginia, Orange Line riders probably will dominate the discussion.

They may want to know about plans to ease the Orange Crush they experience each weekday morning or about the maintenance program that sometimes splits their line or at least requires trains to share tracks on weekends.

From Fairfax County Public Schools: Two boundary options are being proposed for the Community Dialogue Meetings:

Option A: Reassigns a portion of Idylwood Apartments, located along the northwest side of Idylwood Road and southwest of Route 7, from Freedom Hill to Lemon Road Elementary.
Map | Data

Option B: Reassigns Marshall Heights and Dominion townhomes and a portion of Idylwood Apartments, located on the northwest side of Idylwood Road and southwest of Route 7, from Freedom Hill to Lemon Road Elementary.
Map | Data

From Fairfax County: Fairfax County officials announced that the Office of Community Revitalization will oversee the plan to transform Tysons into a walkable, green, urban center.

Because the redevelopment plan involves multiple agencies, the office will help to coordinate efforts countywide, including guiding the direction of any new policies that may be needed.

From WMATA: Metro and Fairfax County launch survey for new Silver Line station names

Metro, in partnership with Fairfax County, today launched an online survey to collect public input on station names for the new Silver Line, which will extend Metrorail service to Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County through the Tysons Corner, Reston, and Herndon areas of Fairfax County, Virginia.

The survey available at wmata.com/silversurvey will remain open until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, and includes proposed station names for the eight Silver Line stations in Fairfax County. Phase 1 of the Silver Line, currently under construction, includes five new stations that are expected to be named this summer. Customers taking the survey are also asked about their opinion on station names for three Fairfax County stations in Phase 2.

The primary purpose of a station name is to help customers plan their trips. Through previous research, Metro customers have indicated that station names help them locate destinations. Long lasting names in Metro's system have typically included the names of towns, streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks that have withstood the test of time. Metro has a policy that requires that names be:

• Relevant: Identify station locations by geographical features, centers of activity or be derived from the names of cities,communities, neighborhoods or landmarks within one-half mile (or walking distance) of the station;
• Brief: Limited to 19 characters with spaces and punctuation, including both primary and secondary names;
• Unique: Distinctive and not easily confused with other station names
• Evocative: Evoke imagery in the mind of the patron

Through the survey, which is available in English and Spanish, Metro hopes to identify station names that resonate with riders and provide assistance for customers planning their trips. Survey respondents have the option of writing in names of their choice or selecting from a list of proposed name for each station. The final names for the station must be approved by the Metro Board of Directors after formal submission by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Take the Survey

PH NOTE: The proposed names for the Metro Station closest to Pimmit Hills are:

• McLean
• Scotts Run
• McLean-Scotts Run
• Tysons-McLean
• Other ________

Tysons-McLean is the recommended name of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Looking back at the past in Pimmit Hills can give us perspective for today. Read the new Perspective blog, that can also be found on the bottom of the home page of the website.