Prince William County, Va. -- The fear of roof collapses may be easing more than a week after two major snowstorms brought more than two feet of snow to the area.
A string of sunny days with temperatures in the high 30s has worked to melt snow accumulated on roofs of homes and businesses in the county.
"With the continuing snow melt, the risk of a roof collapse has diminished significantly," said Prince William County building official Eric M. Mays.
But homeowners and business owners should make sure that drains and downspouts on exterior walls are clear of snow and ice to prevent ponding of water as it melts off roofs, said Mays.
When the Prince William Ice Center in Dale City collapsed Feb. 6, the weight of snow on the roof was to blame. The cause of roof collapses at two airplane hangars at Manassas Regional Airport and Dulles Air-port were also blamed on the heavy snow that day.
On Feb. 8, Mayfield Intermediate School was closed due to fears the roof could collapse. Students will return to classes in two nearby churches Monday.
A $22 million community center which opened last month in Manassas Park was also closed briefly last week after employees found cracks in ceiling tiles. The center later reopened, and a city official said the contractor who worked to build the facility would cover the cost of ceiling repairs.
A list of large, warehouse-type buildings in danger of collapse was compiled and distributed among county public safety officials last week. Though the list was not vetted by building officials, it was not made public as that could have caused panic. The structures on the list were built before 1976, when building codes were changed, officials said.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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