Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-22
MOpup Pushed
In ArIandria 5
Flooded Area
Disaster Aid Set;
BroyhiII to Ask
Engineer Study

Alexandria's stricken Arlan-
dria section resumed mop-up
operations today in the wake
of Tuesday nights flash flood.
The rain last night brought
the total to 6.54 inches over q
40-hour period. and raised
fears that swollen Four Mile
Run might renew its rampage.
By $3.50 o'clock this morn
ing, however, the waters were
again receding, and those
struggling to shovel mud and
man the pumps were further
cheered by two announce
ments:
The Small Business Admins
tration said the area had been
declared q disaster area, per-
hitting the victims to apply
for long-term loans at three
per cent interest.
Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican Of virginia's Tenth
District, said he will help the
city obtain Federal authority
for the assistance of the Army
Corps of Engineers to control
future flooding by cratic -Four
Mile Run.
Eight Block Area
The flood inundated a low
lying area of about eight blocks
near the surging water course,
with Mount Vernon avenue
and adjacent streets particu-
larly hard hit.
City officials said 1t was the
worst flood in the area in their
memory and City Manager Al
bert M. Hair, jr., said the
United States Geological Sur
vey described 1t as a hundred
year flood"
Statistically. 1t happens only
once each century, but this
doesn't mean 1t couldn't occur
again much sooner, he said.
Scattered showers and thun-
derStorms were expected to
prevail over the stricken area
through this evening, with q
high today in the mid 80s and
a low tonight in the high Cos.
About 100 apartments in 10
apartment buildings were left
uninhabitable and the residents
moved to friends and relatives
homes or to nfotels and other
apartment projects.
The SBA said 81 business es-
Establishments in the area Suf-
fered damages totaling $780,
600. Eight homes and number
of duplex houses also received
undetermined damages, Mr..
Foley said.
James N. Hayman, president
of the Alexandria Retail Mer-
chants Association, said the
basement Of his women'S APP
parel store contained more
than 100000 gallons Of water
and was filled to its eight-foot
height.
Harry Madden, resident
manager at Presidential Gar
dens Apartment across from the
shopping center, said is apart
ments were flooded and the
occupants were re-housed in
other apartments. Three medi-
cal offices also were flooded
In two buildings, he said. He
estimated the damage at $780,
600.
City Manager Hair said the
gas system has been checked
and offers no danger and
drinking water is safe.
BOttleneck Blamed
City officials, including the
heads Of the police, fire, traf-
fic and public works divisions,
held an emergency meeting at
$40 pm. yesterday to discuss
the situation. Public Work d.
rector P. H. Hall told the
others that "a lot Of the dam
age was caused by a bottleneck
Tin Four Mile Rum west of
Mount Vernon avenue"
During the last eight years,
he said, Alexandria and Airing
ton spent $4,000 improving
part Of the channel and build
ing bridges over Mount Vernon
and Glebe roads.
Water leakage at the height
Of the storm damaged an esti-
mated 1000 music books and a
number Of recordings in the
Music Division of the Library
of Congress, it was disclosed
today.
The division announced 1t
would suspend its services for
the rest Of the week to carry
out preservation and restora-
ton work. A spokesman said
that with proper treatment