Washington, D.C
DC's 911 dispatch system experiences another outage; OUC reviewing
WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C.’s 911 dispatch system was down for several minutes Friday, according to the city’s Office of Communications.
Officials said the city’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system experienced a connectivity disruption around 5:15 p.m.
CAD is used for dispatching D.C. Fire and EMS and Metropolitan Police Department personnel.
During the outage, public safety agencies transitioned to manual dispatch. The issue was resolved within 20 minutes, according to officials.
Officials said the OUC is still able to process and receive 911 calls during CAD outages.
The outage comes one week after a 5-month-old died while the call center was experiencing technical difficulties.
RELATED | DC police investigate death of infant in Northwest as call center experiences tech issues
The Office of Unified Communications (OUC) blamed the August 2 outage on a contractor’s software update, saying the update was installed incorrectly.
The contractor was fired, 7News learned Monday.
On Friday, August 9, 7News spoke with Public Safety Advocate and long-time OUC watchdog Dave Statter.
According to Statter, this is the sixth outage since May 23.
READ MORE | 7News pushes DC’s 911 call center for answers on system disruptions
“They don’t know where all the units for D.C. Fire and EMS are located without the computer, and there’s a lot of information they don’t have, and they have to basically use pencil and paper or pen and paper to pass notes to each other to make sure everything is done right,” Statter told 7News.
“They haven’t answered what is happening with all this, why does this keep happening at OUC…They shouldn’t lose the computers this often,” Statter added.
The Office of the Chief Technology Officer and the OUC are reviewing the latest outage, according to officials
Washington, D.C
Foot traffic down at DC bar during snow slump, says icy street entrance doesn’t help
WASHINGTON (7News) — By now, you’ve likely noticed the giant piles of ice and snow still sitting around across the District.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said her team, along with outside contractors, is working around the clock to clean it up, though some still say the road and sidewalk conditions should have improved days ago.
7News is speaking with local businesses that are now feeling the negative impacts of the snowstorm.
“I mean, no one wants to walk through a bunch of ice and run the risk of slipping and falling,” Robert Thorburg, one of the managers at Barrel House Cafe & Bar, said. “You can see I’m standing on literally about half a foot of ice, solid ice.”
Barrel House is in the popular Logan Circle neighborhood on 14th Street Northwest. It’s a cafe by day and a bar by night.
“The nights were not doing shows, we’re just a neighborhood bar. People can come in and grab a quick drink. We have a late-night happy hour here on the weekends,” Thornburg said.
But ever since last week’s storm, happy hour hasn’t been so happy.
“No one came out during Monday or Tuesday when everything was happening. It was a challenge for people to get to work. People started to venture out again on Wednesday, but we still had to close early because we just didn’t have any foot traffic,” he explained.
READ ALSO | Metro closures between Pentagon City and DCA start soon
While it’s disappointing to lose business, he gets why people are staying in.
Mayor Bowser and city officials have said they’re doing their best to clean up the streets and get them back to normal.
7News spotted several trucks hauling snow out of the city Sunday evening.
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“Everyone’s impacted by it. Everyone’s trying to survive and get to work, or get their trash picked up, basic essentials that they need to survive,” Thornburg said.
Still, he said it never should’ve gotten this bad.
Get some people out here and get the streets cleaned up. I know they’re beefing up contracting work right now and trying to get that done, but businesses here we support the local economy. So you know, let’s get it done.
Washington, D.C
Snow, strong winds and dangerous cold continue Sunday across parts of VA, MD and DC
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Snow, strong winds and dangerous cold are impacting parts of Virginia, Maryland and the District Sunday morning as a coastal storm continues to move offshore, leaving behind hazardous conditions across the region.
What we know:
According to the National Weather Service, the coastal storm that developed over the weekend is now pulling away, but not before bringing periods of snow and strong winds to parts of the region. Snowfall has been most significant across southern and southeastern Virginia, with lighter and more variable amounts farther north.
Forecasters say a sharp cutoff in snowfall has set up, meaning communities only a short distance apart are seeing very different impacts.
Where snow is ongoing or lingering
Snow is still falling or tapering off in parts of southern and eastern Virginia, which will gradually come to an end Sunday morning. Southern Maryland may also see lingering snow or blowing snow, depending on location.
Farther north — including Washington, D.C. and northern Maryland — snowfall has been more limited, though some slick spots remain from earlier precipitation and blowing snow.
Wind and cold remain a concern
Even as snow diminishes, strong winds continue across the region, especially near the coast, where gusts may still cause blowing and drifting snow. These winds are also contributing to dangerously low wind chills.
Forecasters warn that wind chills Sunday morning may drop below zero in some inland areas, with single-digit wind chills common elsewhere. Cold conditions will make it harder for snow and ice to melt and could prolong hazardous travel conditions.
Coastal and tidal impacts
Along the Chesapeake Bay and coastal areas, tidal flooding remains possible Sunday, particularly around high tide cycles. Officials warn that any flooding could freeze onto roads and surfaces due to the bitter cold, creating additional hazards.
What to expect through the rest of Sunday
Snow should continue to taper from south to north through the morning, but cold temperatures and gusty winds will persist. Travel conditions may remain hazardous even where snowfall has ended, especially on untreated roads and bridges.
Why you should care:
Even as the storm moves out, lingering wind and extreme cold pose ongoing risks, particularly for those traveling, working outdoors or living in coastal and low-lying areas.
Residents are urged to use caution, dress for the cold and monitor local conditions throughout the day.
What’s next:
Forecasters say the region will remain cold into the start of the workweek, though winds should gradually ease. Any remaining snow and ice could linger due to below-freezing temperatures.
The Source: This article was written using information from the National Weather Service.
Washington, D.C
LIVE MAP | Monks’ Walk for Peace reaches Virginia, approaches DC, despite ice and snow
WASHINGTON (7News) — A group of Buddhist monks braved snowy and icy conditions as they crossed Virginia to Washington, D.C., with one mission: promoting peace.
The monks reached Virginia on Wednesday as snow and ice crusted the roads.
“Even in harsh winter conditions—with snow, sleet, and frozen roads—it was so warming to see many people still come out to welcome us along the road,” organizers said on their Facebook page.
SEE PREVIOUS COVERAGE | LIVE MAP | Despite setbacks, Buddhist monks continue their peaceful trek towards DC
The monks are currently on their 98th day of walking in a 120-day, 2,300-mile trek advocating for unity, compassion, and healing across the nation. They are expected to reach the Capitol on Feb. 13.
Aloka the Peace Dog also rejoined the venerable monks while they were resting. While the former stray joined the monks and walked daily during the start of their journey, an injury left him needing a surgery and vet visit in early January.
“He rests nearby, offering his peaceful presence, his quiet companionship, his unwavering love. And that is more than enough. His spirit walks with us even when his paws cannot,” said organizers.
SEE THE WALK FOR PEACE OVERVIEW
Organizers said the following on one of their coldest days:
In the cold winter air, we felt the warmth of humanity. In the midst of a long journey, we felt the embrace of community. This is what sustains us—your hearts, your kindness, your unwavering support.
WHERE THE MONKS ARE NOW
The monks released the following statement about why they are walking:
Rooted in both spiritual devotion and civic purpose, the Walk for Peace seeks to remind Americans that peace is not a destination — it is a practice. As the nation faces challenges of division, mental health crises, and conflict both at home and abroad, this pilgrimage offers a simple yet profound message: peace begins within the heart of each person and extends outward to families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
Anyone is welcome to walk alongside them for a few miles, attend reflection gatherings, or follow updates on social media as the monks’ journey toward D.C. Visiting hours are from lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., organizers said.
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