Manassas City Police reminds residents to tread lightly when offered unsolicited landscaping or home repair services by door-to-door salespeople. Some scam artists have been known to exploit catastrophic events such as storms to target victims in dire circumstances.

Due to the threat of heavy rain and possible severe weather, the State Fair of Virginia closed at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 and will not reopen for the remainder of the 2015 season. Unused tickets can be exchanged for 2016 tickets. Details below.

The Virginia Department of Transportation urges motorists to plan for difficult travel and prepare for hurricane-like impacts Oct. 1-4. Northern Virginia VDOT crews are on alert, checking drains and making preparations for the coming storm. More than 500 crewmembers plus 300 contract employees are ready to clear roads from expected heavy rains, fallen trees and other debris.

On Tuesday, September 29th, at approximately 4:30 p.m., fire and rescue units were dispatched to a structure fire in a two-story single family home located in the 8700 block of Lords View Loop in Bristow.

Dominion Virginia Power is tracking Hurricane Joaquin and two other weather systems that could lead to flooding, high winds and falling trees and is preparing to deal with possible widespread and extended power outages in the company’s service area. The power company urges customers to also prepare and offers these tips.

Due to the anticipated rainfall expected in the coming days, the Manassas Park Department of Public Works is currently preparing sand bags for distribution to Manassas Park residents only. The sandbags will be available on October 1st.

Governor Terry McAuliffe has declared a state of emergency throughout the Commonwealth today to empower public safety officials to respond to Tuesday’s flooding events in communities across Virginia and to prepare for more extreme weather throughout the rest of the week.

Rabies is a deadly virus that can kill anyone who gets it. Every year, an estimated 40,000 people in the U.S. receive a series of shots known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) due to potential exposure to rabies. Prince William County Animal Control says there are steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe from rabies throughout the year.