Powhatan Co Emergency Management

08/04/2025

🚨📢 August is National Emergency Management Awareness Month!
We're excited to join the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) in celebrating the inaugural National Emergency Management Awareness Month — a time to focus on personal preparedness and community resilience.

🛠️ CommUNITY Resilience – 30 Days Stronger Together!
Join us this August for the 30-Day Self-Sufficiency Challenge — a day-by-day guide to help you build habits that could make a big difference in an emergency. Whether it’s creating a contact list or making a family plan, each small step brings us closer to a safer community.

👣 This Week’s Focus – Let’s Get Started:
✔️ Day 1: Are You Ready? Begin the 30-Day Challenge!
✔️ Day 2: Create an emergency contact list—don’t forget non-digital backups.
✔️ Day 3: Build a basic emergency kit with a 2-week supply. 🔗 vaemergency.gov/prepare/emergency-kit
✔️ Day 4: Make a plan: evacuation, shelter-in-place, communication. 🔗 vaemergency.gov/prepare/make-a-plan
✔️ Day 5: Include pets, mobility aids, and unique needs in your plan.
✔️ Day 6: Review home safety—smoke alarms, insurance, fireproofing, flood-proofing.
✔️ Day 7: Sign up for local alerts. 🔗 vaemergency.gov/prepare/stay-informed

🌐 Learn more and follow along at: www.iaem.org/KnowYourEM

Emergency preparedness starts at home — and we’re here to help every step of the way. Let’s build a stronger, more prepared community together!

This August is the Inaugural National Emergency Management Awareness Month!

www.iaem.org/KnowYourEM

In recognition of the International Association of Emergency Managers’ celebration of its inaugural National Emergency Management Awareness Month, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management encourages you to take proactive steps to prepare yourself, your family, and your community. Building awareness and small habit changes can make a significant difference during emergencies.

CommUNITY Resilience – 30 Days Stronger Together!

Join us for the 30-Day Self-Sufficiency Challenge: A 30-Day Self-Sufficiency Challenge is a structured program designed to help individuals increase their self-reliance and independence in various aspects of emergency situations.

This week, focus on these daily tasks to kickstart your emergency preparedness journey:

Day 1: Are You Ready? Begin the 30-Day Self-Sufficiency Challenge.

Day 2: Create an emergency contact list—include non-digital options.

Day 3: Build a basic emergency kit with a two-week supply. (visit: vaemergency.gov/prepare/emergency-kit)

Day 4: Make a plan: household evacuation, communication, shelter-in-place. (visit: vaemergency.gov/prepare/make-a-plan)

Day 5: Include pets, assistive devices, and mobility needs in your plan.

Day 6: Home protection—check smoke alarms, flood-proofing, fire safety, insurance, defensible space.

Day 7: Sign up for local alerts and warning systems. (visit: vaemergency.gov/prepare/stay-informed)

Taking these small steps can greatly improve your safety and resilience. Remember, emergency readiness starts with you!

07/15/2025

07/15/2025

🌧️ Flood Advisory for Powhatan 🌧️

Powhatan is included in a flood advisory today and tonight as storms move through our area. If you need to travel, please drive carefully—water can collect on roads due to already saturated ground.

🚧 To report high water (standing or flowing) on roadways, call our non-emergency dispatch at 804-598-5656.
🚨 For emergencies (like people or vehicles trapped in high water), call 911 immediately!

Stay safe and aware, Powhatan!

The Flood Watch has been extended until midnight tonight and has also been expanded to include southeast VA. Scattered storms again develop this afternoon and evening, bringing a threat for heavy rain and flooding. Additionally, many areas have received 5+" of rain over the past several days and are particularly vulnerable to additional rainfall. Please heed any warnings that may be issued later today!

07/08/2025

📢 Weather Alert from the National Weather Service
Scattered severe storms are expected later this afternoon and continuing into tomorrow. Be prepared for:

🌩️ Strong winds
🌧️ Heavy rain
⚡ Lightning

Dominion Energy forecasts a 15% chance of power outages today and 20% tomorrow.

🥵 The heat index remains high, so please take precautions to stay safe and cool. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, stay hydrated, and check on vulnerable neighbors.

Stay weather-aware and follow local alerts! 🌦️

03/05/2025

03/01/2025

⚠️ Fire danger is high today due to gusty winds, low humidity and warming temperatures. 📈 🔥 Avoid outdoor burning until conditions improve.

02/19/2025

Powhatan Parks & Rec Advisory Council meeting on Thursday, Feb 20 has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb 27 due to weather.

02/13/2025

Public Safety Communications Department has been overwhelmed with calls not only for help, but general questions as well. Some of the most frequently asked questions with answers are as follows:

Road Conditions/ Closures - Check VDOT's 511 website - https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/

Judes Ferry & South Creek One traffic lights are a known intersection outage. Judes Ferry traffic is being re-routed to avoid cross traffic on 60. South Creek One traffic lights should be treated as a 4-way stop as long as it is out. Use caution at both intersections.

Court closures - Check Powhatan County Circuit Court Clerk's Office for updates. Courts opened at 10:30 am today. You can call them at 804-598-5660.

Warming Centers/Shelters - Passion Community Church Powhatan Campus and Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan YMCA have made posts about their showers being available for use. Please check their pages for updates.

When is the power is coming back on? Please contact your power company directly.

Dominion customers - 1-866-366-4357 or https://www.dominionenergy.com/virginia/report-outage-or-emergency

Southside Electric customers - 1-866-878-5514 or https://www.sec.coop/safety-reliability/outage-center/

Telephone lines? You will need to contact Verizon https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/service-outage or Comcast https://www.xfinity.com/support/status directly.

The fire department will NOT respond for downed trees across private property.

02/13/2025

Passion Community Church has opened their doors to anyone needing some warmth, a shower or to charge devices. They will be there until 5pm today.

01/22/2025

🚒 Structure Fire Update - 2800 Block of Anderson Highway 🚒

Last night, a structure fire broke out in the 2800 block of Anderson Highway. Crews from Powhatan Volunteer Fire Department Company 1, Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department, Powhatan Volunteer Fire Department Company 4 (Fine Creek) and Powhatan Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. responded and did an amazing job containing the fire despite the frigid temps and icy conditions. Our dedicated crews will remain on scene throughout the day to ensure the area is safe. Thankfully, there were no major injuries reported. 🙏

A huge thank you to VDOT for their invaluable assistance with the icy road conditions making tanker fill sites treacherous and adding to the difficulty of the situation. Their support was crucial in keeping the operation running smoothly. ❄️🚧

We also want to extend our gratitude to the Metro Richmond Flying Squad for bringing rehab vehicles to the scene. These vehicles were essential in allowing our firefighters to refuel and de-ice in these frigid temperatures. 🚑🔥

The eastbound right lane will remain closed in the area as crews continue to work in the area. Please use extreme caution and keep our first responders safe! 🚒