McAuliffe declared the state of emergency to allow Virginia businesses, residents and officials to prepare for the impending storms.

“I cannot stress enough the imperative for Virginians to focus on the rainstorms that are headed our way tomorrow and Friday, well before Hurricane Joaquin could potentially impact Virginia,” McAuliffe said in a statement. “The forecast of up to 10 inches of rain in areas across Virginia could result in floods, power outages and a serious threat to life and property. As we continue to track the path of Hurricane Joaquin, I have instructed the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to make every preparation for a major event Thursday and Friday.”

The nor’easter is expect to hit the area Thursday and Friday bringing a prolonged period of torrential rain and the potential for dangerous flooding, McAuliffe said in a statement. The rain may continue as Hurricane Joaquin approaches.

Joaquin is currently expected to make landfall at some point on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

The hurricane’s possible trajectory has it hitting North Carolina around 2 p.m. on Sunday and moving through Virginia, D.C. and Maryland Sunday and Monday. Another path, however, predicts Joaquin will bypass the East Coast completely.

Joaquin is currently a Category 1 hurricane with winds up to 85 miles per hour and is floating around the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands, according to NWS.

Virginia officials issued the following tips for staying safe when flooding is expected (after the jump).

Get Ready

• Download the free Ready Virginia app for iPhone® and Android™, which features a customizable emergency plan, a checklist for gathering emergency supplies and an “I’m Safe!” feature that allows you to quickly send a text message to let family and friends know you are safe.
• Decide how and where everyone will meet up with each other if separated.
• Choose an out-of-town emergency contact for your family and give that person’s phone number to each family member.
• Sign up for text alerts/weather warnings that may be offered by your locality. 

Prepare for flooding

• Know the weather terms and what you should do:
  • Flood Watch or Flash Flood Watch: There is an increased possibility of flooding or a flash flood in your area.
  • Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will likely occur very soon. If emergency officials advise you to evacuate, do so immediately.
  • Flash Flood Warning: Flash flooding is occurring. Seek higher ground immediately – don’t wait for official instructions.
• Be prepared to evacuate. If evacuated, don’t return to your home until local officials say it is safe.  After floodwaters recede, roads could be weakened and could collapse. Buildings might be unstable, and drinking water might be contaminated.
• Use common sense and look for information. If water is rising quickly or you see a moving wall of mud or debris, immediately move to higher ground.
• Do not walk through moving water. Look for areas where the water is not moving. What might seem like a small amount of moving water can easily knock you down.

Drive safely

• Know the road conditions before you travel. Go to www.511Virginia.org or dial 511 from any phone for real-time traffic information and road condition reports.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If your vehicle becomes surrounded by rising water, get out quickly and move to higher ground, if possible.
• Flood water might cut off access to roads. Be prepared to stay where you are until floodwaters recede.

Stay informed

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio and your local media to know when flood watches and warnings are issued.
• More flood preparedness information is available at www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/stayinformed/floods.

Other resources

• If you need help, information or resources during or after the storm, call 211. Those with hearing impairments can call 711 to connect to the Virginia Relay Center for assistance with the call. Videophone users may dial 1-800-230-6977.
• www.vaemergency.gov – go online or on your smart phone for statewide storm updates
• @vdem – Twitter feed for storm updates from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management

Police and paramedics were called to Arlington’s Department of Human Services after a man collapsed and suffered an apparent cardiac arrest in a taxi.

The incident happened just after 2 p.m., outside the DHS building at 2100 Washington Blvd. The man — a 65 year old Arlington resident, according to scanner traffic — was in a Red Top Cab when the driver saw that he was suffering a medical emergency and pulled over.

“The driver noticed that [the passenger] was slumped over in between the seats,” said Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Alvin Guice.

The driver checked on the man and found that he didn’t have a pulse. Someone then ran to the DHS front desk and screamed “call 911,” according to a witness.

“We called 911 to respond to a building visitor who appeared to be in distress,” said DHS spokesman Kurt Larrick.

Passersby helped to pull the man out of the cab so they could render aid, the witness said. By the time paramedics arrived, someone was performing CPR on him. Medics took over and continued performing CPR as they rushed the man to Virginia Hospital Center, where doctors were unable to resuscitate him.

“Unfortunately, he was pronounced [deceased] at the hospital,” Guice said.

The following weekly column is written and sponsored by Virginia Hospital Center, a proud member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and one of America’s 100 Top Hospitals for the third year in a row.

Before you launch your next DIY home improvement project, consider this: each year, thousands of people end up in the hospital emergency department or urgent care offices from accidents that occur while performing renovations or other tasks. Safety belongs at the top of everybody’s home improvement checklist. Put down that nail gun and review the following safety tips before you DIY.

• Set up a Work Zone

Be aware of your surroundings, especially when working with others. Set up a defined work area and keep young children and pets out of it.

• Dress for Success

Wear practical clothes and avoid free-flowing styles (or jewelry) that could get caught in equipment. Protect your eyes from flying debris with goggles and wear earplugs to protect your hearing when working with loud power tools. Use appropriate gloves and footwear to prevent splinters, puncture wounds, cuts, abrasions, bruises, burns and falls. Protect your joints by using knee and elbow pads.

• Lift Properly

Protect your back by employing proper lifting techniques.

• Pamper Your Power Tools

Never leave a power tool unattended when in use. If you take a break, unplug tools and keep them out of reach of your kids. Never carry tools by their cords or yank a cord out of an electrical socket. Take good care of tools when not in use. Keep all electrical cords safely away from sharp edges, oil and heat.

• Saw Safely

Saw-related eye injuries are one of the most common DIY accidents. Wear safety goggles and make sure you know how to use all the safety switches and guards before turning on the saw.

• Climb Carefully

Falls from a ladder commonly cause injury. Prior to using a ladder, read the instructions and warning labels. They will help you pick the right ladder for the job. Be sure the ladder is on flat, dry ground. Never step on the top rungs; the weight distribution is too unstable and you are very likely to fall. Watch out for wires and other electrical sources nearby.

Felix Ma, MD, who sees his share of DIY disasters at Virginia Hospital Center Urgent Care, says safety is basically just common sense. “If you’re going to climb a ladder or lift something heavy, ask a friend for help.”

And keep a first aid kit handy. You’ll be ready to treat any scrapes, scratches or bumps during your renovation project. “Make sure you can reach it. And make sure it’s stocked,” Dr. Ma says. “Enjoy skillfully cutting corners on pieces of wood for your next DIY project, but avoid cutting corners when it comes to safety measures. Stay alert and stay safe!” he says.

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

Police say the 23-year-old woman was walking down the 1200 block of N. Quincy Street around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday when she was grabbed from behind by an unknown man. The man tried to pull her into some nearby bushes but quickly fled the scene.

“The victim screamed out for help causing the suspect to flee,” according to Arlington County Police. “The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20-30’s, approximately 5’6″-5’8″ and weighed 130-160 lbs. He was wearing a white t-shirt, dark pants, loafer shoes, and a backpack at the time of the incident.”

Though the suspect description is similar to that of a man suspected in up to a half dozen similar attacks on women in August, police say they don’t think it’s the same person.

“It doesn’t appear that this is the same guy, but we’re not going to rule that out,” said ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

Sternbeck said there’s additional information or evidence that suggests it’s a different suspect, but so far that information is not being publicly released while investigators continue to work the case.

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week are siblings, Biscuit and Waffles. These cute corgis were selected as part of Crystal City’s Pups and Pilsners event and social media contest. Biscuit and Waffles had a paw-tastic time partying at Pups & Pilsners in Crystal City. They’re pretty different but both love cuddling and begging for food.

Here’s what the dogs’ “corgmom” said about them.

Biscuit and Waffles are two corgis that love to eat, sleep and play. They also love to travel to California to visit their grandma and grandpa, and love car rides to corgi meet ups. Biscuit loves to play tug of war with corgmom and corgdad while, Waffles loves to bark and be the fun police. They also love to destroy carpet and sleep under the bed.

Waffles is a huge love bug and loves to pin people down and give them endless amounts of kisses. Biscuit is more independent but loves to snuggle during nap time. We both perfected the “puppy eyes” to get as much fruit, vegetables, and ice cream as we can (anything but seafood).

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email arlingtonnews@gmail.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Arlington and Northern Virginia.

The class of 2015 had a 92.8 percent graduation rate, 0.8 percent higher than the previous year. The on-time graduation rate has increased 8.1 percent over the past six years, according to APS.

The rate is 2.3 percent higher than the state average of 90.5 percent, APS said.

“The increases in the on-time graduation rate and the proportions of graduates earning advanced diplomas is notable given the more strenuous requirements for earning a diploma in Virginia,” APS said in a press release.

Students receiving diplomas this year had to complete an economic and personal finance course, the first time Virginia had this requirement.

“The students who graduated in May and June began high school just as the commonwealth was introducing challenging, new assessments in mathematics, English and science,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven Staples said in a statement.

Of the students who graduated this year, 68.5 percent of them graduated with an advanced or International Baccalaureate diploma, 17 percent higher than the state average of 51.5 percent. The average number of students graduating with advanced or IB diplomas has also increased 7.3 percent over the past six years, from 61.2 percent in 2009.

“While I am pleased that our graduation rates have continued to rise, I am especially excited to see that more and more of our students also have challenged themselves to earn advanced or IB diplomas. This expands the options for their academic and personal pursuits after graduation,” said APS Superintendent Patrick Murphy.

While graduation and advanced diploma rates have increased, the number of students dropping out of school increased, as well. The rate jumped up from 3.8 percent in 2014 to 4.2 percent in 2015.

Although the rate increased, the dropout rate has decreased since 2009, when the rate was 11.9 percent. The rate is under the Virginia average of 5.2 percent.

Following resident outcry from those who didn’t want the Lee Highway fire station to move from their neighborhood, and from those who didn’t want it to move to theirs, last week the Arlington County Board approved the creation of a task force to study the issue and come up with a recommendation.

Now, the county is also conducting a survey of residents via its “Open Arlington” website. The survey, which closes on Oct. 6, is intended to “gather input on the proposed project criteria and the possible direction this task force may take.”

Those who argue in favor of relocating the fire station further north — including fire department officials — say it would improve fire response times to the northern reaches of Arlington, while allowing for a larger and more advanced fire station to be built within budget. Keeping the station where it is would require pricy renovations and potential land acquisition that would be more expensive than simply building the station new on exiting county land.

Those who argue against the station say that it’s a community fixture with an important history, and they like it where it is. Further, some residents around the proposed relocation site near Marymount University say the fire station would disrupt their quiet neighborhood.

We’re conducting our own survey this morning: do you think it’s a good idea to relocate Fire Station No. 8?

Major Traffic, Metro Woes — It was extremely slow going for commuters crossing the 14th Street Bridge this morning. Wet roads and a couple of crashes backed up traffic on I-395 and feeder routes for miles. Traffic issues were also reported on Columbia Pike, due to malfunctioning traffic signals at S. Queen Street. Meanwhile, a fire response at the L’Enfant Metro station and track issues on the Yellow Line bridge have resulted in speed restrictions and delays for Yellow Line riders. [Twitter, Twitter, Washington Post]

Waiting for Joaquin — Arlington County is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Joaquin, which some models are suggesting may have a big impact on the D.C. area. [Twitter]

Cristol Touts Endorsements — Following a snub by County Board member John Vihstadt, who endorsed her Democratic ticketmate Christian Dorsey and independent candidate Mike McMenamin, County Board candidate Katie Cristol is touting her own endorsements. “Twenty elected officials, comprising all of Arlington’s School Board, Constitutional Officers and Richmond delegation, and much of the County Board, today endorsed Katie Cristol’s campaign,” the campaign said in a press release Tuesday. [Katie Cristol]

Juror Qualification Process Begins — A random selection of Arlington and Falls Church residents are being mailed juror questionnaires, which will be used to qualify residents for jury duty in 2016. [Arlington County]

Attorney General Holds Arlington Newser — Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced a new training initiative for police at a news conference in Arlington yesterday. The training is intended to help officers de-escalate dangerous situations, thus preventing the need to excessive use of force, while also recognizing potential biases they may bring to the job. Arlington County already conducts similar training. [NBC Washington]

Arlington County is putting its 180 traffic cameras online for all to view.

A new website launched by the county allows anyone with an internet connection to view real-time video streams from cameras along main roads around Arlington.

“This new service is part of the County’s initiative to promote open data and better serve all those who use Arlington streets,” Arlington transportation chief Dennis Leach said in a press release. “We’re utilizing technology to provide the public with real-time traffic conditions so that they can make informed decisions about their planned trip – anything from a commute to a special event.”

The cameras were previously viewable on Trafficland.com, although more recently the cameras were largely inoperable on the site.

The county says it is planning on adding VDOT highway cameras to its traffic camera page “in the future.” Currently, VDOT cameras can be viewed on the 511 Virginia Traffic Information website.

The new traffic camera system is not without its drawbacks: a sampling by ARLnow.com revealed that about 1 in 5 cameras was “temporarily unavailable,” and cameras are relatively sparse north of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

In addition to now being accessible to curious residents, the cameras are used by transportation officials and public safety agencies to monitor traffic around the county.

“The Transportation, Engineering & Operations Bureau monitors traffic cameras to provide orderly movement of traffic and for incident management purposes,” the press release says. “These cameras are also shared with the Emergency Communications Center and the Arlington County Police Department.”

The cameras, however, are not in place to fight crime.

“Feeds are not continually monitored and the images shown are never recorded,” the county notes. “These cameras are not intended to be used as crime prevention or reporting tools.”

Arlington says it is continuing to upgrade and modernize its traffic infrastructure. From the press release:

For the last few years, the County has been upgrading the traffic signal communications network from copper cable to fiber. This state-of-the-art technology improves the reliability of our traffic cameras and provides higher-quality feeds. It also will help the County implement a Smart Traffic Signal System, which integrates real-time traffic monitoring with Variable Message Signs (VMS), blue tooth devices, video detections and traffic cameras. Upgrades will continue through spring of 2016.

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington that have been reduced in price over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by licensed broker (VA, MD and DC) Aaron Seekford. GET MORE out of your real estate purchase with Aaron by visiting www.MrArlington.com or calling 703-836-6116.

And, just like that… it’s almost October. As the leaves gear up for a change in color, a selection of homes in our county are experiencing a change in price.

This week, as of September 28, there are 257 detached homes, 70 townhouses and 358 apartments for sale throughout Arlington County. In total this week, there is a slight dip in inventory, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some bargains to be had.

Here is this week’s batch of properties that have been reduced:

• 4775 Williamsburg Blvd., Arlington, VA 22207 (NOW: $1,599,900 – Reduced $20,100 on 9/23)
• 2450 North Lexington Street, Arlington, VA 22207 (NOW: $1,368,999 – Reduced $30,001 on 9/24)
• 3546 North Abingdon Street, Arlington, VA 22207 (NOW: $1,050,000 – Reduced $70,000 on 9/23)
• 318 North Madison Street, Arlington, VA 22203 (NOW: $899,000 – Reduced $40,900 on 9/23)
• 3708 5th Street South, Arlington, VA 22204 (NOW: $799,000 – Reduced $11,000 on 9/27)
• 4102 36th Street South, Arlington, VA 22205 (NOW: $405,000 – Reduced $5,000 on 9/25)
• 1511 South George Mason Drive #11, Arlington, VA 22204 (NOW: $189,000 – Reduced $15,500 on 9/28)

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Aaron Seekford.

(Updated at 2:00 p.m.) A VDOT worker is in critical condition after being struck by a car on I-395 Tuesday night.

The crash happened around 10:20 p.m., on southbound I-395 near the Ridge Road overpass. According to initial reports, the worker was setting out traffic cones to warn drivers of an accident ahead when he was struck by a vehicle.

The man was transported to the trauma center at George Washington University Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Weather may have been a factor — it was raining at the time of the crash.

On Wednesday afternoon, Virginia State Police issued the following statement about the crash.

Virginia State Police are investigating a pedestrian crash that occurred late Tuesday evening (Sept. 29) in Arlington County.

At 10:16 p.m., Virginia State Police were on scene of a traffic crash in the right southbound lane of Interstate 395, less than a mile south of the Ridge Road overpass. Safety Services Patrol Supervisor Mike Musgrove responded to the scene to assist the trooper by blocking oncoming traffic and directing traffic safely around the crash scene.

At approximately 10:23 p.m., a 2005 Toyota Matrix traveling south on I-395 lost control and ran through the traffic cones and flares ( that were set up as a perimeter to direct oncoming traffic around the initial crash). The Matrix struck Musgrove, who was standing next to his safety services patrol vehicle. The Matrix then struck the safety truck and guardrail.

Musgrove was transported to GW Hospital in Washington, DC, where he is currently being treated for life-threatening injuries. Musgrove is a VDOT contract employee. His vehicle emergency lights were activated at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Matrix, Charles R. Hepburn II, 39, of Alexandria, Va., was not injured in the crash. Hepburn was charged with reckless driving.

No one from the initial crash was injured in the incident.

Both crashes remain under investigation.

Patrick Henry Elementary School has been recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School, the only public elementary school in Northern Virginia to receive the honor this year.

Arlington Public School officials announced its Blue Ribbon status today in front of the student body, teachers, parents and members of the Arlington School Board. Children and faculty wore blue ribbons to mark the occasion.

“We are very proud of you [the students], of the teachers, of the staff members,” said School Board Chair Emma Violand-Sánchez. “And I wanted to tell the teachers and the staff that you are making a different in the children’s lives.”

Patrick Henry joins 334 other schools receiving Blue Ribbon status in 2015, including 11 schools — six public, five private — in Virginia.

“I am so excited that our students, staff, and families are being recognized for their hard work and dedication to academic excellence,” said Andrea Frye, who has been the principal of Patrick Henry for two years. “Our Patrick Henry team and students are living the school motto of doing their personal best all year and I am so proud that they are being honored for those efforts by being selected as a National Blue Ribbon school.”

The school received the Blue Ribbon in the category of high performance, Frye said. To be chosen as a Blue Ribbon school for high performance, Patrick Henry had to be in Virginia’s top 15 percent of elementary schools, based on test scores.

“One thing we know about Patrick Henry is they have consistently high academic performance, and that tells me one thing. You are working very hard, and that is excellent quality I want you to build on. This school is consistent, teachers and staff, thank you for that,” said Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Patrick Murphy.

Frye said she thinks the school was chosen as a Blue Ribbon school because of its teachers, who work together to help students develop as individuals, instead of focusing solely on academically.

“I think the adult-child relationship that happens at Patrick Henry is unique,” Frye said.

Teachers at the school are kind and make learning fun, said a group of fourth graders, with one adding that they never give out homework that is too long.

“All the teachers are nice, but at the same time, the teachers want us to learn,” said fourth-grader Colby Ames.

The school will display two banners to mark the achievement — the official Blue Ribbon banner from Department of Education and one that celebrates everyone who helped make the school Blue Ribbon worthy, Frye said. Children and teachers will be putting their names on cut-out blue handprints that will hang around the second banner, she added.

Patrick Henry is located at 701 S. Highland Street, near Columbia Pike. The school is diverse from a socioeconomic standpoint, with about 37 percent of the student body receiving free or reduced-cost lunches.