Because of what Hurricane Helene could do this week, Governor Glenn Youngkin has called a state of emergency for Virginia.
According to the governor’s office, the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Centre say that the western parts of the state could see “significant rainfall and flooding Friday into Saturday, combined with pre-cursor rainfall events predicted in the next few days.” This is because the storm’s centre is currently located west of Virginia.
“Even though Helene is expected to have the most severe effects to the south and west of us, we can’t ignore the fact that we have had major flooding events caused by heavy rains that came before and outer bands from tropical systems that drop heavy rains that cause flooding, especially in our southwestern region,” Governor Youngkin said.”
It is very important that we stay alert and know that tracks and effects can change.” As parts of Virginia prepare for high winds and heavy rain, we ask everyone to stay informed through reliable sources and do what your local officials tell you to do.
The governor’s office says that a state of emergency lets the Commonwealth get the resources and tools it needs for preparation, response, and recovery. The Virginia Emergency Support Team is ready to help affected areas and is keeping an eye on the situation to make sure that resources and information are being coordinated.
Here are some tips from the governor’s office:
Recommendations for Virginians:
Make a plan.
Make a plan ahead of time for how to get to a safe place, how to stay in touch with friends and family, and what to do in different scenarios. At vaemergency.gov/prepare/make-a-plan, you can find more planning tools.
Prepare an emergency kit.
Visit VAemergency.gov/emergency-kit for a list of emergency items that will keep your family alive before, during, and after the storm.
Stay informed.
Virginians can get preparedness information from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management on X and Facebook. They can also check with their local National Weather Service office for the most up-to-date weather forecasts, advisories, watches, and warnings.
If you want to get weather reports on your phone from the National Weather Service, download the FEMA app. During bad weather, power outages are always a possibility. Make sure you have a radio that runs on batteries on hand so you can still get life-saving messages.