Arlington County hurricane guide¶
Arlington County Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management (the Office of Emergency Management) sends emergency alerts through Arlington Alert and runs the Ready Arlington preparedness program. Arlington is a dense urban county on the Potomac River, so the main tropical storm risks are intense rainfall and flash flooding, wind, and power outages. The county says recent localized flooding from intense, short periods of rainfall challenges parts of its stormwater system.
Checked on October 9, 2026
Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Arlington County Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.
Emergency and information numbers¶
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger. |
| Emergency management office | 703-228-7935 | Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management main line. Not for emergencies. |
| Police non-emergency | 703-558-2222 | Arlington County non-emergency line for police matters that are not emergencies. |
| Road and traffic conditions (511 Virginia) | 511 | Evacuation routes and road closures. |
Official alerts and information¶
- Arlington Alert: Free real-time safety information and emergency alerts by email, landline, mobile phone, and smartphone. Sign up before a storm. Website.
- Ready Arlington: The county's emergency preparedness pages. Website.
- Flood Resilient Arlington: The county's flood risk and floodproofing information. Website.
Evacuation centers¶
Open only when announced
Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.
The Arlington County pages checked do not list hurricane shelters or evacuation zones. If the county opens a shelter for a storm, expect it to be announced through Arlington Alert and county channels. Do not go anywhere until it is announced. You can ask the Office of Emergency Management at 703-228-7935 what the county plans.
Related guides¶
- Should I evacuate?
- What to expect at a hurricane shelter
- Hurricane supply list
- After a hurricane: the first 24 hours
- Insurance claims and disaster aid
Sources¶
Checked on October 9, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.