Virginia Department of Emergency Management

It is always a great time to meet up with our Metro Richmond PIOs to have a roundtable discussion and to chat about tips & tricks to be the best public information officer possible. Thank you to all those who were able to make it! It was wonderful to see you! Hosted by the great Jason Elmore, MPIO, PIO, MDiv

Spent #lunchtime celebrating our Virginia Department of Emergency Management teammates accomplishments around some great food. Yes, I also wore a (very) loud #Hawaiian shirt to beat the humidity. Thanks to VGIN board member Eric Maybach for helping today. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead this amazing team.

VDEM hosted Congressman Rob Wittman’s annual 1st District Emergency Management Briefing at the state emergency operations center. Local emergency managers and first responders were briefed on this year’s hurricane season outlook and state and federal updates.  -- Shawn Talmadge

If you know a storm is coming in, be sure to bring your beloved pets indoors. They depend on you to keep them safe and should always be considered your emergency plans! 🐈 🐕 In the case of a potential emergency, be sure to also include them in your emergency kit plans. PET-FRIENDLY CHECKLIST: - ID tags on collars and microchip pets - Description and current photos of pets - Immunization and medical records - 1.5 gallons of water and sufficient food and medicine for at least three days per pet - Pet medication, copy of feeding and medication schedule for caregiver, shelter or boarding staff - Serving bowls - Collar, leash and carrier to transport pets safely -Pet toys and bedding #pets #emergency #preparedness

*This was an exercise!* There's nothing quite like getting prepared for a radiological incident with your coworkers and teammates. VOPEX 2024 was a great success at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center on July 16th. The event was an extensive FEMA-evaluated training exercise. Thank you to everyone who came together and took part in this extensive training in a true effort to keep the Commonwealth safe! #EmergencyManagement #VDEM

Ever wondered how a hurricane's wind strength is measured? The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed. 1. 74-95 MPH | Some Damage 2. 96-110 MPH | Extensive Damage 3. 111-129 MPH | Devastating 4. 130-156 MPH | Catastrophic 5. 157 MPH | Catastrophic This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes. For a deeper look into the wind ratings, visit the National Hurricane Center's website here: https://lnkd.in/gbtS4Tg

"When the thunder roars, go indoors!" ⛈ Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that include lightning and can create or cause powerful winds over 50 mph, hail, flash flooding, and/or tornadoes. IF YOU ARE UNDER A THUNDERSTORM WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY. Move from outdoors into a building or car, pay attention to alerts and warnings, unplug appliances, and do not use landline phones. #thunderstorm #lightning #storm #hurricaneseason

Protect your skin this UV Safety Awareness Month! Check out our blog for crucial tips on staying safe in the sun and preventing harmful UV damage. https://ow.ly/xKJE50SzR3P #UVsafety #sunprotection

Many congrats to a great partner and friend, Col Brian Hallberg, PMP, EIT as he relinquishes command and retires from the US Army after decades of service to our Nation. I know him as the Norfolk District Commander US Army Corps of Engineers. The District is one of many #partners we work with on mitigation projects, planning, and emergency response, especially for #flooding related threats. And we welcome our new district commander, Col Sonny Avichal, P.E. Congrats on command and the entire Virginia Department of Emergency Management team looks forward to working with you! #engineering #crisismanagement

VIRGINIA HOMEOWNERS! A home mapped in the Special Flood Hazard area is 2.5x more likely to suffer damage from a flood than a fire in the lifetime of a typical 30-year mortgage. That's a big chance! There is at least a 26% chance you'll experience a base flood during the lifetime of your mortgage. 90% of all natural disasters in the United States involve some sort of flooding. That being said, on average, the annual cost of flood insurance in Virginia is $737. To prepare for and protect against a flood, you should: •Build an emergency kit and make a family emergency communications plan. •Elevate the furnace, water heater, electric panel and other utilities in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk. •Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home. •If feasible, construct barriers to stop floodwater from entering the building and seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds. •Purchase flood insurance to protect your home, your business and your family’s financial security from the costs associated with flood damage. To read more common flood facts from VDEM, you can access this publication: https://lnkd.in/gU-XZk4a