VDEM urges preparedness for hurricanes, other severe weather

As the official start of the hurricane season June 1 nears, Virginia residents are being urged to get ready now by having a plan in advance for responding to severe weather events.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is designating the week of May 13-17 as Hurricane Preparedness Week in Virginia, urging citizens to ensure that they have a plan in advance for responding to severe weather events such as hurricanes, tropical storms, and flooding.

VDEM officials are offering a number of tips about how to stay safe during severe weather events, including:

• having a plan to evacuate if necessary;

• building an emergency kit with food, water, and other supplies;

• preparing the home by cleaning out drains and gutters, checking doors and windows, and securing anything that could become a projectile (bicycles, planters, grills, and lawn furniture, among others);

• having a way to communicate and reconnect with family members if separated during a severe weather event. To view all tips, click here.

Another step that residents can take is to purchase or renew flood insurance. It typically takes up to 30 days for a flood insurance policy to go into effect, so VDEM officials encourage citizens not to wait until a storm is imminent.

Citizens also should know their evacuation zone and stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts from their local office of emergency management.

For details, visit www.vaemergency.gov.

Was this article informative? Help us write more like it.

Trustworthy, non-partisan local news coverage is a vital component of our democracy – it’s why the press is the only private institution mentioned by name in the Constitution. But it costs money to keep a newsroom like ours at the Henrico Citizen alive, and we no longer can rely upon advertiser support alone.

That’s why we’re asking readers like you to support our independent, fact-based journalism. We know you value it – you wouldn’t be here otherwise. Help us keep this critical source of fair coverage alive in Henrico County by making a contribution today: https://henricocitizen.fundjournalism.org/contribute/.

Show your support.