Virginia’s capital is bracing for a blast of winter weather that could dump between 3 and 7 inches of snow through Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
“We are still under a state of emergency,” Youngkin said at a Tuesday morning news conference, referencing his Feb. 10 declaration. “If there wasn’t one that had been declared already, I’d be declaring one today.”
The designation allows state agencies to take unconventional means to assist local governments, provide liability coverage for volunteers and others who are assisting in disaster relief.
It also enables the Virginia National Guard to deploy about 70 troops across the state — in addition to those in Southwest Virginia, where residents are continuing to deal with the results of earlier, intense weather, according to spokesperson Cotton Puryear.
Other VNG troops and members of the Virginia Defense Force will provide support from Joint Force Headquarters in Richmond.
“During domestic operations, the VNG responds as part of a multi-agency team with other state and local agencies to provide support capability requests submitted through the Virginia Emergency Support Team by Virginia localities,” Puryear wrote in an email to VPM News.
On Sunday, Youngkin requested an “Expedited Major Disaster Declaration” from President Donald Trump and said the quick succession of storms this year is “affecting community lifelines.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation has already begun its work ahead of the snow.
“VDOT crews since [Monday] have been treating roadways in anticipation of the winter storm,” VDOT spokesperson Marshall Herman said.
The Richmond Department of Public Utilities closed the Dock Street floodwall Monday as the water levels rose. A DPU spokesperson said it was open again at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, though large swaths of the Virginia Capital Trail along the road were completely underwater.
The James River was running at about 17 feet on Tuesday, though the water level’s expected to slowly fall through Wednesday.
A flood warning has been issued for portions of the James that affect Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico counties. There’s also a hazardous weather outlook and storm warning for portions of Richmond and Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and New Kent counties.
DPU has run “checks for all equipment, fuel, chemicals, and systems” at Richmond’s water treatment facility, a city spokesperson said. The city’s also been in touch with Dominion Energy to prepare for the possibility of a power outage, which led to January’s water crisis.
The string of storms has Cassie Gutierrez, who was walking her dog along Dock Street on Tuesday, concerned.
“It’s been a lot of chaos since the beginning of the year,” she said. “I’m kind of freaking out, but at least my dog is having fun.” City parks like Pony Pasture and Huguenot Flatwater are closed, according to DPU.
As the storm moves into the region, Richmond plans to open its inclement weather shelter at 900 E. Marshall St. at 8 a.m. Wednesday. It’ll be kept open through noon Saturday.
Richmond Public Schools is among districts set to hold classes virtually Wednesday, and Henrico County Public Schools will be closed with a make-up day scheduled for Friday. Other schools info can be found here.
Temperatures are forecasted to tick up to around freezing on Thursday, though up to a half-inch of snow could fall before 1 p.m.
