November 2023
 Department of Forestry in a helicopter surveying fires, courtesy of DOF
Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a State of Emergency due to the wildfires currently burning in the state. This declaration allows for additional money and resources to be at our disposal to be able to fight the fires.
In Madison County, a wildfire was discovered on 10/24 near Quaker Run Road. The fire was contained, but rekindled over the weekend and spread. Voluntary evacuations were issued for some properties nearby, and Madison County officials have been notifying and helping residents. Approximately 2,960 acres have burned, though as of Tuesday evening (11/7), no structures have been damaged.
The Department of Forestry is also fighting several fires in the western region, with the most significant being the Tuggles Gap fire in Patrick County. This fire has burned about 500 acres and is 25% contained.
 Blackhawk helicopter with VA National Guard ready to deploy to drop water on Madison fire, photo courtesy of Virginia National Guard
VDEM, along with the Virginia National Guard, is assisting the Department of Forestry and the localities affected. The National Guard made 15 drops of nearly 10,000 gallons of water in the first 24 hours of the Madison fire. Additional helicopter and water bucket resources are being used.
You can prevent wildfires!
Now is NOT the time to burn! A long period of dry weather has made all of the brush very dry. This dry kindling, along with our current weather conditions (dry and gusty), make it very easy to spread fires!
Burn Bans
Burn bans are issued by the locality, and there are several burn bans in effect across the state. The weather conditions remain dry and gusty, and with a longer period of dry weather, the brush is also dry. This makes for a dangerous combination and allows for the quick spread of fires!
Check out the latest fire danger level and current burn bans at: https://dof.virginia.gov/wildland-prescribed-fire/fire-danger/daily-fire-danger-rating/
View the full text of the Governor's Executive Order here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/eo/EO-29.pdf
Despite all prevention efforts, wildfires will occur. However, there are actions you can take to prepare and protect your home, property, and community.
Protect Your Home
Living in a house surrounded by nature and woodlands can be peaceful and beautiful, but it can also be risky. Many Virginians living in and around wildlands need to consider the fire-prone nature of these ecosystems. Homeowners can take steps to protect their property and help alleviate the spread of wildland fires.
Read more about how to protect your home.
Protect Your Property
The key to protecting your property is defensible space. The good news is that there are actions you can take to create defensible space and reduce your risk.
Read more about how to protect your property.
Protect Your Community
Living in a woodland community requires careful planning to protect homes and property from wildfires. Learn how to live safely in the wildland/urban interface area by becoming a Firewise Community.
Read more about how to protect your community.
 Where do you get your weather information? There are plenty of sources out there, that’s for sure. In a perfect world they would always be giving the same information, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. We use the National Weather Service (NWS) as our primary source of information. The NWS has been in existence since 1890, then known as the U.S. Weather Bureau and is a very robust organization that includes 122 Weather Forecast Offices, 9 national specialty centers, i.e., National Hurricane Center, Storm Prediction Center, 13 River Forecast Centers, and various other offices. They are taxpayer funded and their mission is to provide weather forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property. Virginia is served by 5 NWS Weather Forecasts Offices – Wakefield, Sterling, Blacksburg, all of which are physically located in Virginia, and the Morristown, TN and Charleston, WV offices.
One of the best places to get reliable weather information is from your local NWS website. To get there is pretty easy, for example, the Wakefield website is www.weather.gov/AKQ. To get to the other 4 Virginia sites, substitute AKQ with LWX for Sterling, RNK for Blacksburg, RLX for Charleston, WV, and MRX for Morristown, TN. Each website has a map that displays current watches and warnings, with a legend to identify the hazard. In the event a locality has multiple hazards, the most significant one is displayed on the map. By clicking on the map in the area you are interested in, a page will display the current observations for that area, along with a quick look forecast for the next 5 days, with a more detailed 7 day forecast below it. There will also be a more zoomed in map next to the 7 day forecast which shows the exact point the forecast is valid for and you are able to navigate around that map to select a more specific area. Near the bottom of that map are links with more information. One of the most helpful tools is the Hourly Weather Forecast. Clicking on this link will take you to a page where you can select almost any type of meteorological information you would need and view it in a graph for the next 2 days. The tool allows you to view any 48 hour period within the 7 day forecast by selecting the start date and time. You can view temperatures, wind, rain, snow, cloud cover, etc. for each hour during the 48 hour period and total rainfall for each 6 hour period. By clicking on the Tabular Forecast link (just below the Hourly Weather Forecast link) you can access the same data but see data in a tabular format instead of a graphical format. Another helpful tool is the Forecast Discussion, and is used by emergency managers to better understand the logic of the confidence level of the forecast, as well as to get a glimpse of alternate scenarios.
By exploring other links on the home page of the local Weather Forecast Office page, you’ll find other helpful and interesting information that will keep you better informed, whether you are looking for tides and flooding, information on maps and models, or safety and preparedness. When you have a little free time, go to your local weather service page and have a look around.
 Native American Heritage Month, celebrated in November, honors the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native American/Alaskan Native and Indigenous peoples. The purpose is to promote understanding, debunk stereotypes, and recognize their traditions while acknowledging the challenges they still encounter. By fostering respect for their significant influence on American society, it sheds light on the struggles faced by Indigenous communities historically and in the present. This month serves as an educational opportunity, allowing all Americans to grasp their nation's history better.
As we commemorate Native American Heritage Month, we not only acknowledge the Indigenous communities' contributions but also work towards a more inclusive and compassionate society. It is crucial for us to recognize the entirety of our nation's history, especially the challenges faced by Native Americans both historically and today. Taking supportive actions is essential to rectify past injustices.
Exploring the arts, stories, and traditions of Native American cultures encourages our children to appreciate diversity and respect others. By observing Native American Heritage Month, we aim to learn from history and continue growing as individuals and families.
Submitted by Negus Assefa, VDEM Community Impact Specialist
 Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 making it an annual observance, and it became a national holiday in 1938. Sixteen years later, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name to Veterans Day to honor all those who served their country during war or peacetime. On this day, the nation honors military veterans — living and dead — with parades and other observances across the country and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Interesting facts to know about Veterans Day, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau:
· 16.2 million: The number of military veterans in the United States in 2022, representing 6.2% of the total civilian population age 18 and over.
· 1.7 million: The number of female veterans in the United States in 2022, representing 10.3% of the total veteran population.
· 0.8%: The percentage of veterans in 2022 who served in World War II. Additionally, 4.1% of veterans served in the Korean War, 33.6% in the Vietnam War, 24.4% in the first
Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001), and 26.3% in the second Gulf War (September 2001 or later).
· 8.6%: The percentage of veterans in 2022 who were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Additionally, 72.3% of veterans were White alone (not Hispanic or Latino), 12.4% African American, 2.1% Asian American, 0.8% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 2.8% Some Other Race. The percentages include only those who reported a single race.
· 26.5%: The percentage of veteran age 75 and older in 2022. At the other end of the age spectrum, 8.5% of veterans were younger than age 35.
Disability Employment Awareness
As we consider our veterans and recognize their invaluable service to our nation, we also recognize Disability Employment Awareness as we commemorate the contributions of veterans with disabilities to America’s workplaces This month serves as an opportunity to promote understanding and acceptance of the unique challenges that exist and reflect on the diverse perspectives that individuals from different walks of life bring to the table. This is especially relevant in the context of emergency management, as having a diverse workforce is crucial to understanding the many obstacles that people with disabilities face during a crisis. So, as we embrace this year’s theme of “Advancing Access and Equity”, here are a few examples of how we can create safer environments for everyone through inclusivity:
1. Inclusivity in Emergency Plans: An inclusive workforce can emphasize the importance of inclusive emergency management plans that cater to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities and encourage organizations to adopt accessible communication methods and evacuation procedures.
2. Disaster Preparedness: By promoting disability-inclusive disaster preparedness campaigns, organizations can educate their communities about creating personalized emergency plans and kits that consider the specific requirements of people with disabilities, including medications, medical equipment, and assistive devices.
3. Accessible Shelters: Advocating for accessible emergency shelters equipped with necessary facilities such as ramps, elevators, accessible bathrooms, and sign language interpreters. Ensuring that these shelters are well-publicized, so people with disabilities are aware of their locations.
4. Training and Sensitization: Conducting training sessions for emergency responders, volunteers, and the public on interacting with individuals with disabilities during emergencies. Sensitizing responders to diverse disabilities and teaching them inclusive techniques of communication.
5. Collaboration with Disability Organizations: Partnering with disability advocacy groups to enhance emergency management strategies and involving them in the planning process to gain valuable insights to ensure the inclusivity of emergency plans.
By understanding and addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities, we can create a more supportive environment for our veteran communities.
 Two members of VDEM's Office of Community Impact, Olajumoke and Negus, attended a Community Resource Fair at Manchester Middle School in Chesterfield. Many of the families that attended were bilingual, and we were happy to have provided translated preparedness materials to them!
 Jason Curtis with VDEM Region 3 spoke to a group of Tunstall High School's Future Farmers of America (FFA) students last month at the Brosville Fire Department. The group had several questions and few seemed interested in pursuing a career in emergency management! We love talking to students and getting them interested in the field of EM!
 VDEM also attended the Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Conference. The conference was well-attended, with over 7 states represented. Attendees heard from meteorologists, storm chasers, researchers, enthusiasts, and even a social scientist! Virginia Beach deputy emergency manager Renee McKinnon presented about what it's like working with promoters of big events, and what they do during severe weather. It was eye opening to see everything that our cities do behind the scenes to keep us safe! Thanks, emergency managers!
 VDEM, along with schools, businesses, and other members of the public and private sectors participated in the Great ShakeOut last month -- the largest earthquake drill in the world! The picture above was shared with us from Naval Air Station Oceana. Go, team!
Virginia is no stranger to earthquakes, with the Louisa earthquake in 2011 having impacts several states away.
As a reminder, the best response when you feel shaking or hear an alert is to drop, cover, and hold on. If you are in a wheelchair or use a walker, clock your wheels, cover, and hold on.
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