Feb. 10, 2010

This issue of update focuses on the recent severe winter weather.

Historic winter storms hit Virginia
A severe winter storm system entered the Commonwealth Feb. 5, bringing more than 3 feet of snow to some areas of northern and northwest Virginia. Other parts of the state experienced heavy snow and rain, high winds and ice. At the height of the first storm, more than 200,000 power outages were reported.

The extraordinary depth of snow in some northern and northwestern parts of Virginia has created unique challenges for Virginia Department of Transportation crews trying to clear roads. Additional staff and equipment had to be trucked into some areas to haul away enough snow to allow plowing. In other areas, the weight of snow collapsed roofs.

Efforts to clear snow continued as more snow fell in northern Virginia on Wednesday. The expected additional 10-15 inches of snow will delay road clearance and extended response efforts in many localities.

Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency Feb. 3 to enable state agencies to quickly assist with local government response, and updated the declaration for Wednesday’s weather.

• Virginia National Guard Soldiers were positioned around the Commonwealth to assist local fire, law enforcement and emergency medical services. VNG teams continue to assist with response efforts.


• From early morning Friday, Feb. 5, through late Sunday, Feb. 7, Virginia State Police emergency dispatchers logged at least 5,229 calls for service. Troopers statewide responded to 1,921 traffic crashes and 2,098 disabled vehicles during the three-day period. The seven State Police Emergency Communications Centers also fielded an additional 4,654 calls from the public for information. Between Tuesday and Wednesday morning (Feb. 9-10), VSP statewide have responded to 280 traffic crashes and 484 disabled vehicles.


• The Virginia Department of Transportation continues to conduct 24-hour operations to clear roads. Due to the historic amounts of snow in northern and northwestern Virginia and the additional snowfall on Wednesday, it is taking additional time to clear secondary roads and subdivision streets. Several VDOT districts less affected by the storm have provided snowplows to northern Virginia.


• The Virginia Department of Emergency Management conducted conference calls among local governments, the National Weather Service and other state agencies. The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the state’s efforts to fulfill local requests for assistance, such as:
  
  
  • Moving staff and equipment to support plowing operations in northwestern Virginia
  • Assisting Fluvanna County with obtaining fuel
  • Strategically repositioning other emergency response resources in northern and northwestern Virginia
  • Fire, emergency medical services and emergency operations center personnel, as well as large-capacity shelter generators, in the city of Alexandria
  • Support for shelter meals in Stafford County and the city of Manassas
  • Medical staff to support shelters in northwestern Virginia
  
  
• Local shelters opened in northern and southwestern Virginia on Friday, and many in northern Virginia continue to provide shelter residents.

Training...
Upcoming VDEM training courses

Due to budgetary constraints, VDEM must cancel a class if a minimum of 15 students have not enrolled two weeks before the class begins. Sign up early.

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Learning Management System provides information and enrollment for each class. Students who do not already have an LMS account through VDEM or another state agency must create an account (a one-time process) in order to enroll. Students who have an LMS account should NOT create a separate account, but should proceed directly to their LMS host site web address, log in and enroll in the desired course.

Step-by-step account registration instructions are provided on the VDEM LMS login page at https://covkc.virginia.gov/vdem/external/. Assistance is available from VDEM’s Office of Training and Exercises at lmshelp@vdem.virginia.gov or (804) 897-6500, ext. 6557.

The table below lists VDEM courses for the next quarter.

EM Update is the best way to communicate best practices and to get a heads up on issues that might affect you. Articles include case studies, cost/resource-saving local programs, examples of partnerships and regional cooperation and recognition of emergency managers who receive awards and honors in the field.

Please don't hesitate to contact the editor whenever you have a project that might benefit localities or want to highlight an important issue concerning Virginia's emergency response community. Contact Jolie Shank at (804) 897-6510 or by e-mail at pio@vdem.virginia.gov.

Produced by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, Virginia 23236