Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC)
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
Virginia Emergency Response Team (VERT)
2009-12 Winter Storm Event
SITUATION REPORT # 21
1100 Hours December 29, 2009
SUMMARY
Localities throughout Virginia are in the process of finally being able to perform damage assessments in areas hit by the winter storm of 18-19 December. In Southwest Virginia, many communities are still without power and may not be restored until Sunday 3 January 2010. The slow progress in restoration of power is causing localities to continue shelter operations and request assistance from the Commonwealth to provide essential services such as feeding services. As of 0700, 29 December, reported power outages are down to 8,350, a decrease of 3,500 from yesterday. Several homes may not have power restored until major repairs are made as a result of damage received due to the storm.
EXECUTIVE ACTION
EOC Activation: VEOC at Response Operations with limited Virginia Emergency Response Team activation.
State of Emergency: Governor Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency on 18 December 2009.
Executive Order 105
Protective Actions: Map of VDEM Regions
Local Emergency Operation Centers Open: 2
VDEM Region 4: 2 – Scott County, Russell County
VERT OPERATIONS
Priority continues to be coordination and assistance to local jurisdictions in Southwest Virginia. On 28 December additional resource requests were handled by VERT staff in the VEOC. Calls from citizens have been coming directly into the VEOC complaining about local conditions and response activities. See also ESF 6 – Mass Care.
133 Requests for Assistance Received
In Progress – 20; Declined – 5; Cancelled – 20; Completed – 88
ESF 1 (Transportation): 7
ESF 4 (Firefighting): 10
ESF 6 (Mass Care): 14
ESF 7 (Logistics): 43
ESF 8 (Health and Human Services): 2
ESF 15 (External Affairs): 1
ESF 16 (Military Affairs): 53
ESF 17 (Volunteers and Donations): 5
Missions Delivered, In Transit, or Accepted
Water – 155,044 gallons delivered
Meals – 10,426 MRE/Heater meals delivered
Generators – 2 (demobilized 1)
Propane cylinders – 20 (no change)
Oxygen Tanks – 125 (no change)
Local Support Services: Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
Local Support Services Director on call for Region 4 Coordinator to assist localities as required
ESF 1 - Transportation: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) 511Virginia.org
All interstate, primary roads, bridges and overpasses are clear of snow and ice; however, icy patches remain. Most secondary roads are clear of snow and ice; however, icy patches remain. As of 0800, 29 December, 30 secondary roads across the Commonwealth are closed or impassable due to flooding or standing water.
ESF 6 - Mass Care: Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS)
As of 1100, 29 December, 1 local shelter remains open in Dickenson County providing services for approximately 16 people.
With VDEM, DSS developed message advising citizens to utilize 211 to access water, shelter, and food resources the latter of which have been depleted or lost due to power outages at homes and commercial establishments.
ESF 8 - Health & Medical: Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
Office of Chief Medical Examiner reports 6 deaths; 5 confirmed storm related with 1 pending.
BoilWaterNoticesremainin effect forRussell; except Castlewood, Dickenson; except Clintwood and portions of Buchanan. As of 1555, 28 December, Boil Water Notices were lifted for Scott andWiseand Lee counties. If citizenshave questions concerning theirwater supply, they shouldcontact their water service provider directly.
ESF 12 - Energy: State Corporation Commission (SCC)
Restoration times have shifted due to the increased outages from the recent winter storm. Following is anticipated restoration times: Buchanan County; outages will extend into this week; Dickenson County; outages will extend into this week; Russell and Scott counties; remaining outages will extend into Sunday, 3 January.
Electrical Power: As of 0700 hours, 29 December, known customer power outage is:
Appalachian Power
Buchanan County 3,100 (decrease 1300)
Dickenson County 3,100 (decrease 700)
Scott County 600 (decrease 500)
Wise County 1,400 (decrease 200)
Russell County 0 (decrease 150)
Floyd County 0 (decrease 600)
Total Systemwide 8,350 (decrease 3,500)
ESF 14 - Long-Term Recovery: Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
Clarified request for Initial Damage Assessments (IDA’s) from localities and State Agencies to be submitted to VDEM by 30 December to include electrical coops and colleges/universities; received IDA’s from Alexandria, Farmville, Galax, Hampton, Orange, Norton and Henrico. Snowfall data from National Weather Service (NWS) and National Climate Data Center (NCDC) is being reviewed and initial indications are that approximately 11 localities exceeded NWS and/or NCDC record snowfall levels, 15 met record snowfall levels and 7 are within threshold. All information to be reviewed this week and recommendation on Federal Declaration to be made on 30 December.
ESF 17 - Volunteers and Donations Management: Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
American Red Cross volunteers are delivering 1000 meals a day prepared by Virginia Baptist volunteers at their kitchen in Appalachia VA.The meals are going to the shelters and also to feeding centers established as other shelters close.People whose homeshave beenwithout power for almost 10 days have lost stored foods and cannot prepare meals in their homes. They are coming to 'feeding centers' to pickup prepared meals in Dickenson, Russell, Wiseand Buchanan counties.The feeding center in Wise County at Poundis providing meals-ready-to eat transferred from Russell County, purchased and delivered by VERT agencies.Volunteers are also continuing to help with water distribution. The Southwest VA Second Harvest Food bank, Appalachian Branch in Abingdon, has providedbulk food for distribution through local food pantries in Clintwood and other towns in the region.The Appalachian Branch serves the counties in far southwesternVirginia and is a part of the Southwest VA Second Harvest Food bank based in Roanoke VA.
PLANNING SECTION
Maintaining situational awareness and producing daily state situation reports around 1100.
Monitoring National Weather Service Forecasts regarding storm system forecast to impact the Commonwealth Wednesday night, 30 December and Thursday, 31 December; at this time there are still questions on timing, track and type of precipitation; however, the Commonwealth could experience periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain before changing to all rain. At this time accumulations are expected to be light.
Weather Forecast:
Tuesday 29 December
Southwest/West Central VA: Partly cloudy; high temps mid to upper 30s; overnight temps upper teens to low 20s; north-northwest winds 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. NWS Blacksburg VA; NWS Morristown TN; NWS Charleston WV
Wind Advisory in effect until 1200, 29 December, for areas of Southwest and West Central VA; winds 20-30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph, mainly at elevations above 3000 feet. NWS Blacksburg VA
Northwest/Northern VA: Mostly sunny; high temps mid 30s; overnight temps mid to upper teens; northwest winds 15-25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. NWS Sterling VA
Wind Advisory in effect until 1400, 29 December, for Northwest VA and areas of Northern VA; winds 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, especially along ridges. NWS Sterling VA
Central/Eastern VA: Sunny; high temps low 40s; overnight temps low to mid 20s; north-northwest winds 10-15 mph with gusts up to 40 mph along east coast. NWS Wakefield VA
Wind Advisory in effect until 1800, 29 December, for Accomack County on Eastern Shore; winds 20-30 with gusts between 40 and 50 mph expected. NWS Wakefield VA
Wednesday 30 December
Southwest/West Central VA: Partly sunny becoming mostly cloudy; 60% chance of precipitation, snow/sleet/freezing rain, after 2200 with less than tenth an inch accumulation; high temps low to mid 40s; overnight temps low 30s; south winds 5-10 mph. NWS Blacksburg VA; NWS Morristown TN; NWS Charleston WV
Northwest/Northern VA: Mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy; 40% chance of precipitation, snow/freezing rain, after 0100 with less than tenth an inch accumulation; high temps mid 30s; overnight temps mid 20s; south winds 5-7 mph. NWS Sterling VA
Central/Eastern VA: Mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy; 50% chance of precipitation, snow/rain, after 0100 and change to all rain after 0400; high temps low 40s; overnight temps low to mid 30s; south winds 3-6 mph. NWS Wakefield VA
Prepared by: Ted Costin
Authority of Michael Cline, State Coordinator
/s/ Harry Colestock, VERT Coordinator
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