Governor Youngkin Issues Winter Storm Advisory and Calls for Caution in Virginia
Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin advises residents to remain in place before a winter storm, stressing the importance of road treatment preparations. He highlights continued recovery from previous outages and the mobilization of resources across the state to effectively manage the upcoming snowstorm, which is expected to bring significant accumulations and disruptions.
Governor Glenn Youngkin has urged Virginians to remain cautious with impending winter weather, stating, “If you’re not where you need to be by midnight, don’t go.” During a press conference on Tuesday, he emphasized the importance of allowing treatment trucks to access roads in preparation for Wednesday’s snowstorm. Youngkin indicated that his emergency declaration from last week’s winter weather remains in effect.
The governor warned of potential severe impacts from the upcoming snowstorm, stating that many regions continue to recover from recent power outages caused by ice and flooding. Comparatively, Virginia experienced 450,000 outages due to last week’s weather events, which surpassed previous figures seen during Hurricane Helene’s 315,000 outages.
Resources are being mobilized across Virginia, especially on the Eastern Shore, which lacks adequate snow removal equipment. Emergency services and equipment previously used in Southwest Virginia will remain deployed there to tackle incoming snowfall. Additional National Guard deployments are scheduled for key areas, including Lynchburg, Richmond, and Southside Virginia.
A statewide snow event is projected for Wednesday, prompting Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings from Wise to Richmond and beyond. Forecasts predict accumulation ranging from two to six inches, with certain areas in far Southwest Virginia potentially receiving even higher totals.
In summary, Governor Glenn Youngkin has cautioned Virginians to stay put before midnight to facilitate recovery efforts before a significant snowstorm. With ongoing recovery from past weather-related outages, the state is deploying resources strategically to manage the upcoming challenges. As advisories are issued across the state, residents must stay informed and prepared.
Original Source: www.wvtf.org
