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Partners in Preparedness News You Can Use: June Edition

Virginia Department of Emergency Management sent this bulletin at 06/05/2023 03:24 PM EDT

June 2023

Governor Youngkin kicks off Hurricane Season along with elected officials and state partners at the state's emergency operations center

Pictured above, Governor Glenn Youngkin getting an update from the state's Hurricane Program Manager, Bruce Sterling

Thank you to the Governor of Virginia, elected officials, and our federal, state, local, private, nonprofit, and media partners for helping us kick off the 2023 hurricane season.

More than 170 partners attended our event at the Emergency Operations Center last Wednesday. VDEM team members stressed the importance of people across Virginia having flood insurance, checking their current insurance, and staying prepared all hurricane season long.

#GetReadyVA #FloodAwareVA

Hurricane Season is here! Have you seen the outlook?

The 2023 Hurricane Season Outlook: 40% chance of a "near normal" season, 30% chance "below normal", 30% chance "above normal" season

From our Hurricane Program Manager, Bruce Sterling

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season kicked off last week and although this was the second year in a row with no May tropical cyclones, we started the season off with a bang. Tropical Depression 2 formed at 5 pm on June 1 in the Gulf of Mexico and became the first tropical storm of the year at 2 pm on June 2, and was named Arlene. Ironically, Tropical Storm Alex originated on June 2 last year. Why did we start the season with TD-2 instead of TD-1 you might ask? Well, during the course of typical re-assessment of weather systems, the National Hurricane Center determined that a subtropical storm occurred off of the northeast coast of the United States in mid-January. While the system was not retroactively named, it was designated as the year’s first tropical cyclone, using the designation of TD-1. For the rest of the season, the outlook suggests that we will experience an average, or perhaps slightly below average of 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major (Category 3 or above) hurricanes. Remember though, regardless of how active any hurricane season is, it only takes one storm, the one that strikes us, to make it a bad year. We should always be prepared for the worst regardless of what the seasonal forecast is. Below are the names and pronunciations of this year’s named storms.

Name Pronunciation Name Pronunciation

----------------------------------------------------------------------

~~Arlene~~ ~~ar-LEEN~~ Lee lee

Bret bret Margot MAR-go

Cindy SIN-dee Nigel NY-juhl

Don dahn Ophelia o-FEEL-ya

Emily EH-mih-lee Philippe fee-LEEP

Franklin FRANK-lin Rina REE-nuh

Gert gert Sean shawn

Harold HAIR-uld Tammy TAM-ee

Idalia ee-DAL-ya Vince vinss

Jose ho-Zay Whitney WHIT-nee

Katia KAH-tya

Download our Hurricane Evacuation Guide today!

New Hurricane Evacuation Guides and Inland Impacts Guides

We've updated our Hurricane Evacuation Guide this year, and also have a BRAND NEW Inland Flooding Guide! You can find both in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/hurricanes/. Make sure if you live along the coast that you Know Your Zone before you need to evacuate. You can find your zone at KnowYourZoneVA.org.

Guides available in Virginia's top 6 identified languages

Flooding and tropical systems don't just impact Virginia's coastal communities

VDEM and FEMA perform initial damage assessment to Buchanan in July 2022

Recent years have reminded us that you don't need to live along the coast to experience the impacts of a tropical system. Stalled or slow-moving systems can dump historic amounts of rainfall over the state, creating real problems even well away from the coast. Heavy rainfall can lead to mudslides, landslides, riverine flooding, and flash flooding. That's why this year, we created our Inland Impacts Guide to Hurricane Preparedness. Find and download it here.

Efforts to recover and rebuild from 2021's flood in Hurley, and 2022's Buchanan flood are still ongoing.

Are you covered for the next flood?

Each year, more homes are experiencing floods due to rising rivers. While you may not live on the river, its waters can still pay you a visit, and just one inch of water can cause $25,000 in damage that your homeowner's insurance does not cover. Learn more: https://www.floodsmart.gov/rivers, and participate in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program at https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance. Make sure the coverage is right for your family -- private insurance is also available.

Climatology Tidbit

This May, Richmond was much cooler than normal and wetter than normal. The average temperature of 64.8°F was 2.0° below normal, and the 4.47 inches of precipitation was 112% of the normal amount (data are from SC-ACIS and normal is defined relative to the 1991-2020 NCEI climate normal). Despite this month being cooler than normal, Mays in Richmond are getting hotter, leading to a change of 2.1°F since 1970.

-from Climate Central

Important headlines from FEMA

TOMORROW: FEMA hosting webinars on what state, local, territorial, tribal, and private nonprofit partners can do with excess supplies and equipment

With the closing of the COVID-19 incident on May 11, 2023, FEMA understands the importance of addressing any concerns related to excess supplies and equipment that is no longer essential or usable. Please see below to participate in the one-hour webinar that is best for you:

English webinar for tribal partners

When: June 6, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1608302880

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Passcode: C19

One tap mobile

+16692545252,,1608302880# US (San Jose)

+14154494000,,1608302880# US (US Spanish Line)

Dial by your location

+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)

+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 551 285 1373 US

+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)

+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Find your local number: https://fema.zoomgov.com/u/azyxh9zAy

Join by SIP

1608302880@sip.zoomgov.com

Join by H.323

161.199.138.10 (US West)

161.199.136.10 (US East)

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Passcode: 668051

English webinar for state, local and territorial partners

When: June 7, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1608302880

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Passcode: C19

One tap mobile

+16692545252,,1608302880# US (San Jose)

+14154494000,,1608302880# US (US Spanish Line)

Dial by your location

+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)

+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 551 285 1373 US

+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)

+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Find your local number: https://fema.zoomgov.com/u/azyxh9zAy

Join by SIP

1608302880@sip.zoomgov.com

Join by H.323

161.199.138.10 (US West)

161.199.136.10 (US East)

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Passcode: 668051

English webinar for private nonprofits

When: June 8, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1608302880

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Passcode: C19

One tap mobile

+16692545252,,1608302880# US (San Jose)

+14154494000,,1608302880# US (US Spanish Line)

Dial by your location

+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)

+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 551 285 1373 US

+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)

+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880

Find your local number: https://fema.zoomgov.com/u/azyxh9zAy

Join by SIP

1608302880@sip.zoomgov.com

Join by H.323

161.199.138.10 (US West)

161.199.136.10 (US East)

Meeting ID: 160 830 2880Passcode: 668051

Spanish webinar/semiario virtual en español

When: June 9, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET | Cuándo: 9 de junio de 2023 a la 1 p.m. hora del este

Where: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1601104315 | Dónde: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1601104315

Meeting ID: 160 110 4315

Passcode: C19

One tap mobile

+16692545252,,1601104315# US (San Jose)

+14154494000,,1601104315# US (US Spanish Line)

Dial by your location

+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)

+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 551 285 1373 US

+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)

+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 160 110 4315

Find your local number: https://fema.zoomgov.com/u/aq6Tm6Z00

Join by SIP

1601104315@sip.zoomgov.com

Join by H.323

161.199.138.10 (US West)

161.199.136.10 (US East)

Meeting ID: 160 110 4315

Passcode: 570974

For more information on FEMA’s COVID-19 recovery efforts, visit Assistance for Governments and Private Non-Profits After a Disaster | FEMA.gov.

Start making your emergency plan today!

Don't get caught without a plan! Check out these planning resources that will help you kickstart your emergency preparedness and guide you along the way as you make your full plan. "My Emergency Plan" is now available in 6 languages. Download it and get started now at Make a Plan | VDEM (vaemergency.gov).

News from your VDEM Regional Offices

VDEM Region 1:

Region 1 staff assisted with several exercises in the month of May, including a National Weather Service Exercise, annual VESTEX Exercise, and several local exercises. Staff frequently attended planning meetings related to an upcoming radiological exercise, and others in preparation for the start of hurricane season on June 1^st. We also welcomed a Nick Sheffield as the new Emergency Coordinator in Sussex County.

In June, staff look forward to participating in a Disaster Recovery Exercise, an Air Operations Exercise, and attending numerous meetings with state, local, and federal partners.

VDEM Region 2:

VDEM Region 3:

VDEM Region 4:

Region 4 has had a busy month! At the beginning of the month, Region 4 welcomed State Coordinator Shawn Talmadge. The top two pictures are Shawn presenting awards to local partners who responded during the 2022 Buchanan Flooding. Region 4 was hard at work closing out the month, when the region experienced a lot of rain during the Memorial Day weekend. The bottom two pictures show VDEM Regional Staff (Disaster and Recovery Resource Officer Sara Harrington and All Hazards Planner Anna Lester) with Flood Intel Unit's Sarah Chappel and National Weather Service discussing the rain gauge that was installed last year in Tazewell County. The other picture is a mudslide that occurred in Bland County as VDEM Staff (AHP Anna Lester and RAMS Joseph Moore) was assisting Bland County EM Jenna Dunn in surveying some of the damage.

VDEM Region 5:

June is upon us: Beach Season, Children out of school; concerts; boating; grilling out, but most importantly for us here at VDEM Region 5 is the start of Hurricane Season. We held several workshops for our localities, bringing in speakers from the NWS, the VDEM Hurricane Program, our North Carolina partners, and more. Topics included how many tropical storms to expect for the season – it is projected to be an “average season” with enough storms to keep us wary; updates to our evacuation planning – remember to check your Zone at KnowYourZoneVA.org, and other topics. Remember, to visit the VDEM or FEMA Websites for how you can prepare to be aware.

VDEM Region 6:

VDEM Region 6 is supporting several large sporting events including

-Carilion Clinic Ironman 70.3 Triathlon

- USA cycling championship

We are also supporting a regional tabletop exercise with local partners.

VDEM Region 7:

In May, staff participated in the Prince William County/MCB Quantico Full Scale Exercise. The purpose of the exercise is to validate interoperability between Prince William County and MCB Quantico in the areas of hazardous materials response and family reunification.

Other things the VDEM Region 7 team has been up to:

Several R7 staff have taken the EMAP Assessors Course in Fairfax
We, along with a few Region VII local jurisdictions, attended the annual Hurricane Season Kick-Off with Governor Youngkin
Supporting Stafford County with IPAWS Alert Originator Demo
Will be participating in the Arlington County Communications Drill

Important
Contacts
📇

•Katie Carter
Partners in Preparedness
Katie.Carter@vdem.virginia.gov

•VDEM Public Information Inbox
pio@vdem.virginia.gov

•Region 1 Contact
Donna Pletch
Donna.Pletch.vdem.virginia.gov

•Region 2 Contact
Alexa Boggs
Alexa.Boggs@vdem.virginia.gov

•Region 3 Contact
Gene Stewart
Gene.Stewart@vdem.virginia.gov

•Region 4 Contact
Justin Haga
Justin.Haga@vdem.virginia.gov

•Region 5 Contact
Harrison Bresee
Harrison.Bresee@vdem.virginia.gov

•Region 6 Contact
Mike Guzo
Mike.Guzo@vdem.virginia.gov

•Region 7 Contact
Jake Kezele
Jake.Kezele@vdem.virginia.gov

Upcoming
Dates
📆

Through June 4: Richmond Greek Festival - Richmond
Through June 4: Jackalope Fest - Virginia Beach
June 4: IRONMAN - Roanoke Valley
June 9-11: Norfolk Harbor Fest - Norfolk
June 14-17: USA Cycling Amateur Road National Competition - Roanoke City/Franklin County
June 19: Juneteenth
June 28 - July 9: Salem Fair - Salem

Thank you for reading Preparedness News You Can Use! 😊 We hope you found it worth your time. The Preparedness News You Can Use editors welcome all content suggestions. If you have a suggestion for the next issue, please email Katie Carter at katie.carter@vdem.virginia.gov.

Partners in Preparedness News You Can Use: June Edition

June 2023

Governor Youngkin kicks off Hurricane Season along with elected officials and state partners at the state's emergency operations center

Hurricane Season is here! Have you seen the outlook?

Download our Hurricane Evacuation Guide today!

Flooding and tropical systems don't just impact Virginia's coastal communities

Are you covered for the next flood?

Climatology Tidbit

Important headlines from FEMA

TOMORROW: FEMA hosting webinars on what state, local, territorial, tribal, and private nonprofit partners can do with excess supplies and equipment

Start making your emergency plan today!

News from your VDEM Regional Offices

VDEM Region 1:

VDEM Region 2:

VDEM Region 3:

VDEM Region 4:

VDEM Region 5:

VDEM Region 6:

VDEM Region 7:

ImportantContacts📇

UpcomingDates📆

Important
Contacts
📇

Upcoming
Dates
📆