Governor McAuliffe Announces Improvements to Commonwealth Hurricane Preparedness

English: Hurricane evacuation route sign in the USA  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hurricane evacuation timeline adjusted to allow officials more time to make decisions and carry out emergency plans

RICHMOND, Va. – Governor Terry McAuliffe released a report today outlining improvements to Virginia’s hurricane preparedness plan, including an adjustment to the evacuation decision-making timeline. The hurricane in-season review, led by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Transportation, focused on five critical areas: coordination and information-sharing between state and local emergency officials, evacuation of impacted areas, sheltering evacuees, assistance to those with access and functional needs or without transportation, and communicating with the public. 

“Building a New Virginia Economy begins with having the plan and the infrastructure in place to keep our families, communities and businesses safe in an emergency like a hurricane,” said Governor McAuliffe. “This review demonstrates that we have many strengths when it comes to hurricane preparedness, but also a number of challenges that we must meet head on.

“My administration will enact the recommendations of this report to strengthen our response plan so that we can get localities, first responders and Virginia families the tools they need to respond to an emergency and get back to their lives as soon as possible.”

The revised hurricane evacuation decision-making timeline includes the following key actions prior to the onset of tropical storm force winds (39-73 mph):

·       -96 hours – Initiate deployment of state resources for evacuation activities

·       -72 hours – Recommend first call by the governor with chief local elected officials concerning evacuation plans and activities (previously occurred at the -48 hour mark)

·       -48 hours – Recommend start of mandatory evacuation for a Category 3 hurricane (previously occurred at the -38 hours mark)

“While this change may provide up to an additional 12 hours for deciding evacuation issues, it depends on a clearly defined storm track and intensity analysis several days before landfall,” said Virginia Department of Emergency Management State Coordinator Jeff Stern. “Last July, Hurricane Arthur rapidly increased from a tropical storm to a Category 2 hurricane only 14 hours prior to landfall in North Carolina, which would have left little time to evacuate a large coastal population like Hampton Roads prior to the storm’s arrival if one had been needed.”

Last May, the Governor directed cabinet secretaries and state agencies responsible for carrying out a hurricane evacuation to work with their local and federal partners to identify potential short- and long-term improvements to existing plans. The following are some of the key findings of the in-season review:

·       Coordination and information-sharing between state and local emergency officials has been inconsistent. Identified areas for improvement include standardization of conference calls, use of technology for information exchange, deployment of liaison officers in local emergency operations centers and continued development of a regional approach to disasters in Hampton Roads.

·       A mass evacuation of Hampton Roads may not be necessary if areas at risk are prioritized and communicated to the public early. This allows those in higher-risk areas enough time to get to a safe location.

·       Virginia and the Hampton Roads region should emphasize focused evacuations. New information technology will enable better planning for the most critical areas.

·       The reversal of lanes on Interstate 64 is an evacuation tool of last resort and is reserved for the most catastrophic storms.

·       Future transportation projects should consider capacity improvements to facilitate evacuations.

·       Additional shelter capacity is needed for those seeking refuge within the Hampton Roads region that is capable of withstanding storm winds.

·       Building codes have not adequately addressed the requirements for storm wind protection.

·       Plans are in place to contract with bus services to evacuate individuals with access and functional needs and those without transportation, but these efforts are fragmented between different jurisdictions and levels of government.

·       Progress has been made to communicate regional preparedness information to the public through Ready Hampton Roads, but a more robust public messaging effort will be needed as changes are made to evacuation planning and sheltering, and also when communicating with summer tourists.

·       Future state exercises should focus on how local, state and federal partners respond after the disaster; addressing issues such as intermediate and long-term housing, economic recovery, infrastructure rebuilding and communications.

A full copy of the in-season hurricane review report can be found at www.vaemergency.gov.

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Governor McAuliffe sets September as National Preparedness Month in Virginia

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Join America’s PrepareAthon! by taking action to prepare for emergencies

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe has recognized September as National Preparedness Month in Virginia, calling on families, business owners and communities to take specific steps to be ready for emergencies.

“Most Virginians know they should be prepared for emergencies, but they haven’t completed an emergency plan or participated in an exercise or drill to test their plan,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “It’s never too late to get ready, so I encourage all our people to take at least one action during September to make sure our families, businesses and communities are prepared for the next emergency.”

Among the most important actions people can take toward disaster preparedness are:

·       Practice going to your protected place to be safe from tornadoes.

o   Know what to do and where to go when a tornado warning is issued for your area: http://www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/stay-informed/tornadoes/preparingfortornadoes

o   Get a NOAA Weather Radio to hear tornado warnings issued directly by the National Weather Service.

• Sign up for text alerts/weather warnings that may be offered by your locality.

• Download the free Ready Virginia app for iPhone® and Android™.  Features:
  • Weather warnings issued for your location by the National Weather Service
  • A customizable emergency plan that can be easily shared with family and friends
  • A checklist for gathering emergency supplies

• Create a family emergency communications plan. 
  • Decide how and where everyone will meet up with each other if separated
  • Choose an out-of-town emergency contact for your family and give that person’s phone number to each family member
  • Make a sheet of emergency contacts and post it in visible places in your home and workplace.  Don’t rely on your smart phone or online contact lists.
  • Get a free emergency plan worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov orwww.ListoVirginia.gov or use the new Ready Virginia app.

• Talk to an insurance agent about flood insurance.
  • Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding; renters and business owners also can get flood insurance.
  • Just one inch of water in a mid-size home or office can mean $20,000 in repairs.
  • Go to www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419 for more information.

People with disabilities or access and functional needs may need to take additional steps.  Plan how to handle power outages and/or being asked to evacuate.  See www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/getakit/disabilities

This year, National Preparedness Month features a day set aside specifically for taking actions to get prepared for emergencies.  September 30 has been designated America’s PrepareAthon! Day.  To sign up for America’s PrepareAthon! go to www.ready.gov/prepare and register how you will take action to prepare in September.

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments

English: Map of regions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced additional appointments to his administration today. The appointees will join McAuliffe’s administration focused on finding common ground with members of both parties on issues that will grow Virginia’s economy and create more jobs across the Commonwealth.

Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security

Curtis Brown, Chief Deputy State Coordinator, Virginia Department of Emergency Management

Curtis Brown has homeland security and emergency management policy experience at the federal, state, and local levels.  Most recently, he served as the Emergency Management Administrator for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), where he worked with federal, state, and local homeland security and emergency management officials to promote seamless coordination, build capabilities, and develop preparedness plans.  Prior to joining the HRPDC, Curtis served as Professional Staff on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, where he was responsible for oversight of several Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency initiatives, including emergency communications, preparedness grants, and homeland defense.  Additionally, he served as Senior Special Assistant to Governor Tim Kaine in the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness with responsibility for developing emergency preparedness policies for state agencies.  Curtis received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Radford University, his Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech, and his Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University.  He is also a graduate of the Virginia Executive and Commonwealth Management Institutes.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth

Board of Conservation and Recreation

·       Patti Jackson of Mechanicsville, Senior Director, Partner Relationships, American Cancer Society

·       Andrew C. Jennison of Vienna, Deputy Director, Governmental Relations, H&R Block

·       Isaac J. Sarver of Dublin, Western Virginia Political Director, Mark Warner for Virginia

Board of Directors of the Virginia Resources Authority

·       Thomas L. Hasty, III, CRP* of Chesapeake, Senior Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Risk Management Committee, TowneBank

Board of Medicine

·       J. Randolph Clements, DPM of Roanoke, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Carilion Clinic,  Associate Professor of Surgery, Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine, Residency Director, Podiatric Medicine and Surgery

·       Maxine Lee, M.D. of Roanoke, Staff Anesthesiologist, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke Ambulatory Surgery Center, Past Vice President for Medical Affairs, Carilion Medical Center

Cemetery Board

·       Enid Butler of Williamsburg, Adjunct Professor, VCU Department of Gerontology

·       Armistead W. Dudley of Norfolk, Bureau Manager of Cemeteries, City of Norfolk

Small Business Commission

·       E. Dana Dickens, III, of Suffolk, Realtor, William E. Wood

·       Paul A. Miller of Clifton, CEO, Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies, LLC

·       Atif M. Qarni of Manassas, Mathematics Teacher, Prince William County Public Schools

Small Business Financing Authority

·       Nicholas T. Jordon of Arlington, Owner, Capitol Bridge Holdings

·       Gail L. Letts of Midlothian, Chief Lending Officer, Richmond Region President, Head of Commercial Banking, C&F Bank

State Child Fatality Review Team

·       Jessica T. Pickett of Stafford, EMS Technician, Firefighter/Medic, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

Virginia Aviation Board

·       Derek M. “Dak” Hardwick of Alexandria, Director for International Affairs, Aerospace Industries Association

·       Daniel G. “Bud” Oakey of Henrico, Chairman and Managing Director, Advantus Strategies, L.L.C.

Virginia Energy Council

·       The Honorable Maurice Jones of Richmond, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia

·       The Honorable Molly Ward of Richmond, Secretary of Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia

·       Cynthia Adams of Charlottesville, Executive Director, Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)

·       Kristen Hughes Evans of Richmond, Founder, Sustainable Chesapeake

·       Alleyn Harned of Harrisonburg, Executive Director, Virginia Clean Cities

·       Chelsea Harnish of Richmond, Policy & Campaigns Manager, Virginia Conservation Network

·       Francis Hodsoll of Reston, Founder, Virginia Advanced Energy Industries Coalition

·       Steven Jumper of the District of Columbia, Director, Corporate Public Policy, WGL Holdings, Inc.

·       Irene Kowalczyk of New York City, Director, Global Energy Sourcing & Policy, MeadWestvaco

·       Vishwa Link of Richmond, Partner, McGuire Woods

·       Bernard Lamoureux of Boydton, Data Center Operations Manager, Microsoft

·       David Lawson of Norfolk, Vice President, Coal, Norfolk Southern Corporation

·       Robert Matthias of Virginia Beach, Chair, Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority

·       Ann Blair Miller of Roanoke, Director, Project Management, Roanoke Regional Partnership

·       Laurie Moran of Danville, President, Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce

·       Dr. Ganapati Myneni of Yorktown, Senior Scientist, Jefferson Labs

·       Dr. Kenneth Newbold of Harrisonburg, Director of Research and Innovation, James Madison University

·       Archie Pugh of Roanoke, Managing Director, Transmission, Appalachian Power Company

·       Donald Ratliff of Big Stone Gap, VP States – Government Affairs, Alpha Natural Resources

·       Jack Reasor of Glen Allen, President & CEO, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC)

·       Sandy Reisky of Charlottesville, Chief Executive Officer, Apex Clean Energy

·       Stephen Walz of Fairfax, Director, Environmental Programs, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

·       Mike Ward of Richmond, Executive Director, Virginia Petroleum Council

·       Dan Weekley of Richmond, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Dominion Resources

Virginia Horse Industry Board

·       David Lamb* of Gordonsville, Owner, Oakland Heights Farm

·       Harold C. McKenzie, III, DVM, MS, DACVIM* of Blacksburg, Associate Professor of Large Animal Medicine, Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

*Indicates reappointment

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Ready Virginia app presented to President Obama during hurricane season briefing

Official photographic portrait of US President Barack Obama (born 4 August 1961; assumed office 20 January 2009) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

App users will now receive instant notification of weather hazards

WASHINGTON – The free Ready Virginia mobile application that helps people prepare for emergencies and stay informed during disasters was demonstrated to President Barack Obama May 30 in preparation for hurricane season, which started yesterday and extends through Nov. 30. The president’s annual briefing was held at FEMA headquarters and included three presentations on innovative apps that reach people with critical emergency information. Virginia was the only state invited to present.

“I am proud of the work the Virginia Department of Emergency Management has done on this innovative app that will help Virginians stay informed and prepared in the event of a hurricane or other disaster,” said Governor McAuliffe.

“We were very proud to showcase the Ready Virginia app,” said Brian Moran, Virginia secretary of public safety and homeland security. “We know it’s important to meet people where they are, particularly during emergencies, and many of them are on mobile devices.”

“The invitation to present during this high-level, pre-hurricane season briefing was very timely,” said State Coordinator of Emergency Management Jeff Stern, who described the app’s features to President Obama following an introduction by Secretary Moran. “In fact, that day we had added push notifications to the app that allow users to receive instant weather warning alerts for their area from the National Weather Service. This is a critical safety feature to have, especially when you’re not tuned in to local radio or television.”

The Ready Virginia app for iPhone® and Android™ devices was developed by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) as an interactive tool that makes it easier to be prepared for emergencies. Users can make a customized emergency plan, identify and collect needed emergency supplies, and get the latest disaster news when there are widespread or high profile disaster events in the commonwealth.

Among the app’s features are:

• Alerts: real-time weather and hazard alerts for your location
• Plan: make your emergency plan and share it with family and friends
• Local: GPS-enabled evacuation routes, flood risk updates, emergency manager contacts
• Checklist: essential emergency supplies to have in your kit
• Threats: learn what to do to prepare for the most likely disaster events in Virginia
• Disaster news: stay informed on current emergency events or browse through previous disaster blogs

When Hurricane Sandy impacted the commonwealth in 2012, 40% more people used mobile browsers to access VDEM’s website than during Hurricane Irene the previous year.

The hurricane preparation briefing was moderated by Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism. NOAA Administrator Kathy Sullivan briefed the president on hurricane season. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson discussed progress on the federal government’s efforts to prepare for and capacity to respond to severe storms. 

Read President Obama’s pre-hurricane briefing remarks:  www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/30/readout-president-s-briefing-ahead-2014-hurricane-season

Learn more about the Ready Virginia app: http://www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/additional-resources/mobileapp

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Official Seal Websafe Colors (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced additional appointments to his administration today. The appointees will join McAuliffe’s administration focused on finding common ground with members of both parties on issues that will grow Virginia’s economy and create more jobs across the Commonwealth.

Secretariat of Commerce and Trade

George Stewart, Special Assistant

George Stewart served as a confidential assistant to Chief of Staff designee Paul Reagan and Secretary of the Commonwealth designee Levar Stoney on Governor-elect McAuliffe’s transition team.  Prior to that, Stewart served as Special Assistant to Governor McAuliffe during his campaign.  Stewart graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Economics.

Secretariat Public Safety

Jeffrey D. Stern, State Coordinator, Virginia Department of Emergency Management

Jeffrey Stern has over 25 years of local and federal government experience as an emergency manager and first responder, having been a firefighter, paramedic, and battalion chief, leading hazmat, technical, and swiftwater rescue teams with fire departments in Virginia, Maryland, and Colorado.  He served in leadership roles as Director of the Northern Virginia Emergency Response System and in the Arlington County Office of Emergency Management, and helped lead teams in response to Hurricanes Charley and Katrina and the Haitian earthquake.  Stern was also the Executive Director of the Homeland Security Advisory Council at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and he teaches disaster management at Georgetown University. Mr. Stern earned his B.A. in Government from the College of William & Mary, his MPA from the American University School of Public Affairs, and is a Ph.D. candidate at Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy.  He is a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers, a member of the InterAgency Board, and is a Senior Fellow with the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute.

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