BILLY SHIELDS: On Nine Mile Road, there were lines of cars seemingly stretched for more than a mile in front of the Henrico Government Center.

JODY ROGISH: I've been here since right before sunrise and I've seen it's been a nonstop line of cars.

So you can tell, I mean, it takes a little bit of time to get through.

Especially if you're filling containers.

BILLY SHIELDS: Cars in line for water.

The result of a double whammy between Richmond and Henrico.

JODY ROGISH: This is a crisis, and we're trying to manage it.

BILLY SHIELDS: As Supervisor Jody Roguish explains, Winter Storm Blair knocked out the city's pumps and filters.

Then a water main break turned the flow in Henrico to a trickle.

Started out as low pressure in the morning.

I thought it might have been because of the cold, but then after that, it just stopped.

It's... it's a little rough.

BILLY SHIELDS: Some filled just about any type of container.

And others got pallets of bottled water.

Many who came through here weren't just helping themselves.

TINA DOWTIN: I have one in my household, there're six in my parent's household, so I'm doing this for all of us.

BILLY SHIEILDS: This man is getting water for members of the First African Baptist Church in Richmond.

VERNON ROBINSON: We just doing what we can to help our church member or anyone that's in the community that's in need.

BILLY SHIELDS: Just to give you a feel for the need for water in this area, this is one of two tanker trucks that pulled in to the Henrico Government Center parking lot in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

It's not even noon on Wednesday, and this is almost empty.

JODY ROGISH: They will run out at some point.

We have plans to refill them.

It'll probably take about two to three hours till they get one of those out of here and get it back in here but we're doing really well right now.

BILLY SHIELDS: Meanwhile, area residents coming through here are grateful they have a toilet to flush or fresh water to drink.

In the midst of a cold snap.

TINA DOWTIN: Water main break was, you know, that was spur of the moment type of thing.

So I appreciate the fact that they put everything together so quickly and they made these resources available.

VERNON ROBINSON: We just making do what the best that weve got.

BILLY SHEILDS: Even if folks have to wait a bit.

Billy Shields, VPM News.