FR is under voluntary water conservation

front royal town hall

The Town of Front Royal is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water as river levels continue to drop.

Town officials say the flow of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River fell below 400 cubic feet per second on August 5th.

That’s about 260 million gallons of water per day.

The reduced flow triggers conservation measures under the Town’s water withdrawal permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Residents are being asked to limit outdoor water use.

That includes watering lawns, plants and trees only before nine a.m. or after four p.m.

Car washing should be limited to once a week, unless using a commercial car wash.

Residents are also asked to limit washing driveways and other paved surfaces, reduce the use of ornamental fountains, and avoid filling swimming pools unless simply topping them off.

Restaurants are asked to serve drinking water only when customers request it.

Officials also recommend the following conservation efforts:

  • Running dishwashers and washing machines only when they’re full.
  • Taking shorter showers.
  • Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
  • Fixing leaking or inefficient water fixtures.

Residents can call the Town’s Water Treatment Plant at 540-636-7474 with questions and should monitor local media for future updates.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Crisis24 is introduced in Clarke County

Clarke County Used by permission by Clarke County

Clarke County residents may notice a new name associated with the county’s emergency notification system. CodeRED is now operating under the name “Crisis24.”

County officials say the transition does not require residents to download a new application.

However, mobile app users may need to update or reinstall the existing app to continue receiving notifications.

In addition, some users who receive alerts through the app, text message, or email may need to resubscribe to ensure uninterrupted delivery of emergency notifications and community alerts.

Clarke County encourages all residents to review and update their contact information to ensure they continue receiving important emergency communications in a timely manner.

For more information or to verify your alert settings, residents should visit the Clarke County emergency communications webpage.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Flood Awareness Week

Virginia is observing Flood Awareness Week in Virginia is wrapping up today, reminding residents across the Shenandoah Valley to prepare for possible flooding.

Officials say flooding is one of the most common natural disasters in the state and encourage families to review emergency plans, know their flood risk, and never drive through flooded roads.

More safety tips are available through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Ground water levels continue to fall

Graphic created by Royal Broadcasting employee Brooke Greene used by permission

Recent monitoring shows groundwater levels in the Shenandoah Valley continue to fall, raising concerns for residents, farmers, and water users across the region.

Despite snow and sleet from Winter Storm Fern, groundwater hasn’t seen a significant rebound, and water tables remain lower than expected for this time of year.

The US Geological Survey reports say the storm’s moisture hasn’t yet made its way into the aquifer below.

This follows earlier reports that groundwater had dropped several feet, placing levels near some of the lowest in more than a decade and impacting stream flows across the valley.

Officials remind residents that continued monitoring and water conservation efforts will be important as conditions evolve.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Odor control maintenance at Wastewater Treatment Facility

The Town of Front Royal will be performing routine maintenance at its Wastewater Treatment Facility during the week of July 14–18, 2025.

Crews will be replacing the wood media in the odor control unit on the digested sludge tanks.

During this time, residents may notice a temporary increase in odors near the facility.

While the smell may be unpleasant, it poses no harm to residents or pets.

We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Governor Youngkin gives winter storm update

Heavy winter weather has impacted several localities after the past two winter storms, leaving over 200,000 customers without power at its peak.

As of 7 p.m. on Thursday, more than 120,000 remain without power, especially in western Virginia.

Governor Youngkin is warning that the weekend forecast calls for more rain, high winds, and potential flooding.

The Virginia Emergency Support Team has been activated since Sunday and will continue coordinating efforts at
the state operations center.

Authorities are focused on restoring utilities, ensuring safety, and keeping residents informed of hazardous conditions.

As we transition from winter weather to potential flooding concerns this weekend, below are some flood safety and preparedness tips.

Failing to evacuate flooded areas, entering flood waters, or remaining after a flood has passed can result in injury or death.

Flooding is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry.

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Page county emergency communications has new feature

page county election coverage

The Page County Emergency Communications Center has an important announcement for
residents: We’re here for you in emergencies in more ways than one.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you can’t call 911, you can text 911 instead.

The center is equipped to handle text communications, allowing you to send your location and needs via text message.

Simply create a message, enter 911 as the recipient, and provide the necessary information.

A dispatcher will respond to you right away.

For any questions about texting 911, please call the non-emergency line, 540-843-0911.

Please remember, do not test the 911 text feature.

Stay safe!

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Prepare for hurricane season

As the Atlantic hurricane season kicks off, Governor Glenn Youngkin is calling on residents throughout our Commonwealth to prioritize readiness in anticipation of potential storms.

Recently, Governor Youngkin toured the Virginia Department of Emergency
Management to receive updates on ongoing hurricane preparedness efforts.

With the hurricane season spanning from June 1st to November 30th, taking steps is essential to protecting lives and property.

Storms originating in the lower Atlantic or Gulf States pose a risk of moving northward and inflicting substantial damage on Virginia.

That’s why all Virginians statewide are urged to prepare.

Take the time now to review your insurance policy, secure your property, and create a plan that includes arrangements for your pets or those that may need extra assistance.

Know your zone.

Evacuation may become necessary depending on the track and severity of the storm.

Review Virginia’s evacuation zones at KnowYourZoneVA.org.

Users can enter their physical address in the search bar of the website to confirm their designated evacuation zone.

Complete a family communication plan.

Prepare for how you will assemble and communicate with your family and loved ones.

Identify meeting locations and anticipate where you will go.

Create an emergency kit comprising nonperishable food, water, medications, hygiene items, radios, spare batteries, and essential documents.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.