Bristol Virginia Emergency Management

Bristol Virginia Emergency Management Protecting citizens' lives and property from emergencies and disasters by coordinating emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.

01/30/2026

Welp… here we go again. ❄️

As referenced in our previous post, the upcoming weather system is expected to impact our area — this time with accumulating snow rather than ice. While that’s a different hazard, it still brings dangerous travel conditions, reduced visibility, and the potential for disruptions.

Now is the time to wrap up preparations:

✔️ Complete essential travel before conditions deteriorate

✔️ Prepare your vehicle for winter driving or plan to stay off the roads

✔️ Charge phones and essential devices

✔️ Have flashlights, medications, and supplies ready in case of delays or outages

✔️ Continue safe heating practices and ensure smoke/CO detectors are working

Snow-covered roads and limited visibility can make travel slow, hazardous, or impossible, especially once plowing operations are underway.

City emergency personnel and public works crews are actively preparing to respond as conditions develop. We ask residents to use 911 only for true emergencies, helping reduce unnecessary travel during hazardous conditions.

Stay weather-aware, check on neighbors, and monitor official updates as this event unfolds.
Prepared beats surprised — every time.

01/27/2026

Emergency Warming Shelter at Highlands Fellowship Church to Remain Open Through Tuesday Afternoon

BRISTOL, VA — The City of Bristol, Virginia announces that the Emergency Warming Shelter located at Highlands Fellowship Church will remain open until 12:00 PM (noon) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, due to continued cold conditions and community need.

The Warming Shelter is located at:

Highlands Fellowship Church
134 Commerce Court
Bristol, VA 24202

The shelter continues to provide a safe, heated location for individuals seeking relief from prolonged freezing temperatures.

The Shelter will cease operations Tuesday afternoon as conditions are forecasted to improve. Those still in need are encouraged to utilize existing sheltering facilities.

Appreciation to Community Partners

The City of Bristol extends its sincere gratitude to Highlands Fellowship Church and its members for their compassion, generosity, and cooperation in supporting the community during this winter weather event. Their partnership has been instrumental in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals during extreme cold.

Bristol Virginia Emergency Management will continue to monitor weather conditions and community needs and will provide updates should shelter operations change.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant during cold weather, check on neighbors who may be vulnerable, and follow guidance from official City communication channels.

01/25/2026

City of Bristol to Open Warming Shelter Due to Prolonged Freezing Temperatures

BRISTOL, VA — Due to prolonged freezing temperatures forecast for the Bristol area, the City of Bristol, Virginia will open a Warming Shelter to provide a safe, heated location for individuals in need.

The Warming Shelter will be located at:

Highlands Fellowship Church
134 Commerce Court
Bristol, VA 24202

The shelter will open tonight at 6:00 PM and will remain open for a 24-hour period, subject to weather conditions and community needs.

About the Warming Shelter

A Warming Shelter is a temporary, short-term facility opened during extreme cold to provide individuals with a warm, safe place to escape dangerous temperatures. Warming shelters are intended to reduce the risk of cold-related injuries and exposure and may offer limited amenities focused on warmth and safety.

Travel Safety Reminder

Residents seeking to access the Warming Shelter are urged to exercise extreme caution when traveling, as winter weather may create hazardous road conditions. If travel is unsafe, individuals should delay travel until conditions improve or seek alternative safe shelter options.

Bristol Virginia Emergency Management will continue to monitor weather conditions and community needs and will coordinate additional response actions as necessary.

The City of Bristol thanks Highlands Fellowship Church for partnering with the City to support the community during this period of extreme cold and thanks residents for their cooperation and compassion.

01/25/2026

City of Bristol Administrative Offices Closed Monday, January 26, 2026

BRISTOL, VA — Due to forecasted winter weather conditions, City of Bristol administrative offices will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026, to ensure the safety of employees and the public.

Essential public safety and emergency services, including Police, Fire, and Emergency Operations, will remain operational.

Residents are encouraged to monitor official City communication channels for updates regarding City services and reopening information.

The City of Bristol appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation as we respond to this weather event.

01/23/2026

⚠️ Emergency Preparedness Update – Bristol, VA ⚠️
Based on guidance from the National Weather Service, residents should prepare now for dangerous winter weather conditions expected this weekend.

❗ Travel should be completed before Saturday evening.
❗ Travel on Sunday is expected to be extremely difficult and is NOT advised.
❗ Power outages are possible due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines.

Residents are strongly encouraged to:
• Complete travel, errands, and supply runs before Saturday evening
• Prepare for potential power outages (flashlights, batteries, medications, charged devices)
• If using alternate heating sources, ensure working carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are installed and never use generators, grills, or fuel-burning appliances indoors
• Avoid unnecessary travel so roadways remain clear for emergency and utility crews
• Check on elderly neighbors and those with medical or mobility needs
• Use 911 only for actual emergencies to help reduce responder travel and keep resources available for those in critical need
The City of Bristol will be upstaffing emergency services and public works personnel in preparation for this weather event to support response operations and essential services.

👉 Emergency: Call 911
👉 Continue to monitor official city communications and trusted weather sources for updates

Your preparedness and cooperation help keep our community and responders safe.

01/22/2026

⚠️ Weekend Preparedness Reminder – Bristol, VA ⚠️

The National Weather Service is monitoring a weather system that could bring hazardous conditions to our area this weekend. While details may change, now is the time for residents to prepare in case of emergencies.

Residents are encouraged to:
• Limit travel if conditions deteriorate, especially during periods of ice or snow
• Keep a flashlight, batteries, medications, and essential supplies on hand
• Ensure phones and medical devices are fully charged
• Check on elderly neighbors and those with access or mobility needs
• Use space heaters safely and never run generators or grills indoors

City crews and public safety agencies are monitoring conditions and will respond as needed. Please stay weather-aware, use caution, and follow official updates if conditions worsen.

👉 For life-threatening emergencies, call 911
👉 For official updates, monitor trusted weather and city communication channels

Your preparedness helps keep you, your family, and our responders safe!

12/24/2022

📣 UPDATE 3. TVA has ended planned intermittent interruptions. We appreciate your patience as we worked with TVA and 152 other local power companies and industrial customers to manage record-setting power demand. We recognize that these planned temporary disruptions are a challenge, but it was needed to maintain grid stability for 10 million people across seven states.
Thank you for doing your part, conserving energy, and helping us manage this extreme weather event.

📣 UPDATE 2. TVA is anticipating lifting the Strp 50 requirements in the next 30 minutes.

📣 UPDATE 1. TVA is now requiring 10% load reductions through system outages. Customers can expect 15 minutes of service outage every 2.5 hours until TVA lifts requirements. Customers all across BVU's power grid will see blinks during the rolling blackouts due to load imbalance.

—- ORIGINAL POST —-

‼️PLANNED POWER OUTAGES. Tennessee Valley Authority, BVU’s wholesale power provider, has implemented Step 50 of an Emergency Load Curtailment Plan. This means BVU Authority (and 152 other local power companies) are required to reduce overall system load by 5% by performing temporary service outages.

CUSTOMER IMPACT. Starting soon, BVU customers may experience temporary power outages (approximately 15 minutes) until further notice. BVU is working diligently to fulfill Step 50 requirements while minimizing impact to our customers. At this time, TVA has not advised when Step 50 requirements will be lifted.

PURPOSE. These actions are necessary to balance system load with limited power availability resulting from the unexpected loss of 6,200 megawatts of TVA power generation assets as we entered extreme temperatures yesterday and today. With those assets out of commission, TVA needed to produce 32,000 megawatts of energy to serve its seven state service area, compared to expected 28,000 megawatts for this time of year.

THANK YOU. We sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience on this holiday weekend as our crews continue to work in harsh conditions. We apologize for any inconvenience and will keep our customers updated via this page and local media as more information is available.

12/22/2022

The City, with the assistance of the American Red Cross, Highlands Fellowship Chapel and the Bristol Department of Social Services, will be opening an emergency shelter due to the extreme cold temperatures our region is expected to see over the next several days. The shelter will be located at Highlands Fellowship Chapel, 134 Commerce Court, Bristol, Virginia. The shelter will open on Friday, December 23, 2022 at noon and will close on Sunday December 25, 2022 at noon. However, if there is a lack of demand for temporary shelter, the shelter at Highlands Fellowship may close prior to noon on December 25th.

The Salvation Army located at 137 M.L.K. Jr. Blvd, Bristol, Tennessee will be open 24 hours a day throughout the weekend. It will be open to anyone who needs shelter as well.

If you can not get transportation to one of these facilities, please call the City’s Dispatch at 276-645-7400 for assistance. The City’s police, fire and public works personnel will be searching for people who may need assistance in seeking shelter from the cold this weekend as well.

Please seek shelter from this extreme cold weather event. Prolonged exposure to these extremely cold temperatures could lead to hypothermia or death.

12/21/2022

Due to the impending weather over the course of the next few days, the following shelters will be opening under emergency schedules as follows.

Salvation Army- will be operating under white flag status; open 24/7 with all being welcome through Monday morning

Haven of Rest- will be operating on a case by case basis for night time only

The city is also monitoring the weather and conditions to determine if a 24/7 shelter will need to be opened in the City of Bristol at our current emergency shelter location.

12/21/2022

It's cold now, but it's expected to get even colder! 🥶 Make sure you stay warm, keep your pets safe, and prepare your car and home.

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249 Lee Street
Bristol, VA
24201

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