VDEM RECOGNIZES MAY 13-17, 2024, AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN VIRGINIA

Published: May 12, 2024

RICHMOND – The week of May 13-17, 2024, has been designated by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) as Hurricane Preparedness Week in Virginia. The official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1, however VDEM officials want to let residents and visitors to the commonwealth know the importance of how to respond to the threat of a severe storm or hurricane.

"As Virginia braces for the hurricane season, we urge all residents to prioritize safety and readiness,” says VDEM Chief Agency Spokesperson Jason Elmore. “With proactive planning and community cooperation, we can navigate any storm with resilience and strength. Let us come together to ensure all Virginians are prepared for whatever may come our way."

Here are some important tips to ensure your safety before, during, and after severe weather.

Make a plan:

• If you need to evacuate, you can move faster if you've already thought about what to do.
• Determine in advance where you'll go and your evacuation route(s).
• Know how you'll communicate and reconnect if your family isn't together when a storm hits.

Build a kit:

• Have emergency food, water, and other supplies to last at least 72 hours.
• A good time to build your kit is when there isn't an imminent threat.
• Take the needs of individual family members like seniors, babies, and pets, into consideration.
• A list of suggested items can be found at https://www.vaemergency.gov/prepare/emergency-kit

Prepare your home:

• Before a hurricane, you'll need to prepare your home by cleaning out drains and gutters, checking the yard and removing or securing anything that could become a projectile like bicycles, planters, grills, and lawn furniture.
• Cover doors and windows.
• Check your carbon monoxide (CO) detector's battery.
• For these and other tips, visit vaemergency.gov/threats/hurricanes/

Purchase or renew flood insurance:

• It typically takes up to 30 days for a flood insurance policy to go into effect, so it's better not to wait until a storm is imminent.
• People often don't realize until it's too late that separate policies are needed for protection against wind and flood damage because a regular homeowners insurance policy doesn't cover them.

Know your evacuation zone:

• The Virginia Department of Emergency Management designed evacuation zones for all coastal regions to simplify the process of determining whether a resident should evacuate or shelter at home in an emergency based on their address. Look up evacuation zones at https://www.vaemergency.gov/know-your-zone

Stay informed:

• Sign up for emergency alerts from your local office of emergency management and know where to get the latest information.
• Follow VDEM on our social media accounts

For more information go to our website at www.vaemergency.gov

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For more information, please contact us at PIO@vdem.virginia.gov

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