Possible power outages a top concern as Richmond officials prep for winter storm
Richmond leaders said Thursday that they’re doing everything they can to prepare the city for a major winter storm this weekend, but are expecting some combination of snow and ice to cause power outages.
In a statement Thursday, Dominion Energy said it’s preparing for “significant and widespread power outages from heavy ice and snow accumulation across Virginia and northeastern North Carolina beginning Sunday afternoon and continuing into early Monday morning.” The power company said it expects a “severe storm and multi-day power restoration effort.”
Mayor Danny Avula echoed that concern during a news conference at City Hall.
“In the same way that your city leaders are preparing for the storm, we also want you, the public, to prepare for this storm,” Avula said. “Get your food and medications ready. Know that you might be boxed into your house for a couple of days, maybe longer. Make sure that you've got whatever essentials that you need. Charge your batteries. And be prepared.”
Snow is expected to begin after sunset on Saturday night, with about 3-6 inches falling overnight, according to NBC 12. Sunday morning the snow is expected to turn to freezing rain, which carries the highest potential for damage to trees and power lines.
It was a power outage that knocked out the city’s water treatment plant a little more than a year ago, leaving the city without usable water for several days. City officials said they feel they’ve done enough work rebuilding and regrouping from the water crisis that a repeat outage is far less likely today.
“We are as prepared as we possibly could be for another weather event, and I feel confident that we'll make it through,” Avula said.
Graham Moomaw
The city’s Department of Public Utilities has also been putting a new emphasis on emergency training drills so that staff at the plant know what to do when a potentially damaging storm hits, according to DPU Director Scott Morris.
Over the last year, officials have made several updates to the water plant’s backup power systems. The coming storm could be a test of whether new systems and equipment work as intended.
“We have full power feeds available to the plant,” Morris said. “Backup generators are available to the plant.”
City officials also said they’re already pre-treating local roads, opening an emergency shelter to help more of the city’s homeless population escape the cold and making housing and food arrangements to allow essential city staff to continue working even if the rest of the city is forced to hunker down.
Avula encouraged city residents to sign up for the Richmond Ready Alerts system that pushes out urgent public safety messages.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger declared a state of emergency Thursday to mobilize more state resources ahead of the storm.
During a news conference at the Virginia State Police headquarters in Chesterfield County, the newly sworn-in governor asked Virginians to get ready and stay off the roads as much as possible once the wintry weather hits.
“If the storm comes in as predicted, it will take time for roads to be cleared and passable,” Spanberger said. “So I am asking all Virginians to spend this time getting prepared for this incoming storm. And I am asking all Virginians to stay off the roads as of Saturday night, all day Sunday, through Monday morning.”
Asked about any concerns they might have about the status of Richmond’s water plant, state officials said they’re regularly coordinating with local officials across Virginia and prepared to respond to any requests that might come from Richmond.
“They haven't asked for any outreach yet related to their infrastructure, but our team is working very closely with them at the regional level,” said John Scrivani, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
Avula has requested $80 million in state dollars to help the city continue funding water infrastructure projects. That money was not included in the initial budget proposed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, but Richmond representatives are trying to have it added to the budget Spanberger will approve in a few months.
Graham Moomaw
The governor was noncommittal Thursday when asked about the possibility of Richmond getting state water funding, saying only that she was aware of the effort to secure more money for the city and the region.
“I’ve been in communication with regional, local leaders about how we should move forward, beginning now, to ensure that old and aging water systems are indeed functional,” Spanberger said.
Contact Reporter Graham Moomaw at gmoomaw@richmonder.org
