Hurricane Earl

Va. Guard Release: Virginia Guard personnel standing down after preparing for possible post-storm recovery operations from #Hurricane #Earl

~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~ Sept. 3, 2010 

For more info: Mr. Cotton Puryear at cotton.puryear@us.army.mil or 804-539-1451 

Virginia Guard personnel standing down after preparing for possible post-storm recovery operations from Hurricane Earl 

Photos of preparations:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157624859431506/

Virginia National Guard personnel on state active duty for possible post-storm recovery operations for Hurricane Earl began standing down Sept. 3 and shifted into the recovery phase of the mission. Approximately 200 Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force began staging Sept. 1 and were ready to respond as the storm made its way up the coastline, but received no official requests for assistance from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management as Earl bypassed the Hampton Roads area. 

“Even though we did not receive any requests for assistance, I am very proud of how the Virginia Guard responded in this situation,” said Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia. “Our personnel rapidly responded to the call from the Governor, and we were ready to go in case we were needed to assist the citizens of the Hampton Roads area.” 

“As our personnel move into the recovery phase of this operation, they will reset our equipment to ensure that the Virginia Guard remains prepared to respond when called,” said Col. Jeff Hice, joint operations officer for the Virginia Guard. Virginia Guard personnel will be officially released Friday evening and will be available for any future mission requests from VDEM. 

Soldiers from the Hampton-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team were on duty to provide high-water transport capability and Airmen from the Virginia Beach-based 203d RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron were prepared to provide support for light debris removal. Members of the Virginia Defense Force were also on duty at the Virginia Guard’s command and control cell at VDEM as well as in Norfolk to provide back up communications capability if the storm had damaged the communications infrastructure. 

Governor Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia Wednesday morning, a step that authorized state agencies to take precautionary action to prepare for any potential impacts in eastern Virginia from Hurricane Earl. The declaration authorized the Adjutant General of Virginia to call up those resources he thought were necessary to ensure the Virginia Guard could fulfill its mission in the event the storm impacted Virginia. 

“The key to the rapid response for this event was having personnel in place and ready to respond before the hurricane moved into the region,” Hice said. 

The Virginia National Guard receives their missions through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to assist state and local emergency response organizations, Hice said. 

News Release: Governor McDonnell Updates Commonwealth’s Preparations in Advance of Hurricane #Earl

Commonwealth of Virginia

Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2010
Office of the Governor
Contact: Stacey Johnson
Phone: (804) 225-4260
E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@governor.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Contact: Bob Spieldenner
Phone: (804) 674-2400
E-mail: Bob.Spieldenner@vdem.virginia.gov  

Governor McDonnell Updates Commonwealth’s Preparations in Advance of Hurricane Earl
—Latest Models Continue to Show Track Well East of Commonwealth—
Based on Path, Minor Impacts Anticipated; System to be Past Area by Holiday Weekend 

RICHMOND –Following a visit to Virginia’s Emergency Operations Center in Midlothian, Governor Bob McDonnell today highlighted the precautionary preparations being taken by state agencies and officials ahead of Hurricane Earl. The tropical system, currently located roughly 230 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, continues on a northward trajectory at 18mph and has been downgraded to a still powerful Category 3 storm as of the 2pm update from the National Hurricane Center.  Based on the present speed of the storm, the system should pass well to the east of the Commonwealth during the day on Friday. The governor declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia yesterday, a proactive step authorizing state agencies to take precautionary actions to prepare for any potential impacts in eastern Virginia from Hurricane Earl. A state of emergency must be declared under state law so that additional resources are available and positioned for use if necessary.   

Speaking about Virginia’s state of preparedness, Governor McDonnell noted, “As predicted by forecast models, Hurricane Earl is now moving due north. This is good news for the Commonwealth. However, the storm is still several hundred miles away, and a slight shift to the west would have a significant impact on weather conditions in the state, particularly in our coastal areas. For that reason it is imperative that all state agencies and residents continue to monitor this storm closely over the next 24 hours. Residents in the Hampton Roads area in particular should pay close attention to local emergency authorities and news reports. While we do not expect a major impact in Virginia, we have prepositioned assets as a precautionary measure. Our state agencies are coordinated and prepared to respond to any developments that may take place over the next 24 hours”  

Virginia’s coastal areas remain under a Hurricane Watch. Residents in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore could see tropical storm force winds with gusts up to 50 mph, beginning tonight and continuing through tomorrow morning.  With the current forecast path, there is a high risk for strong rip currents, with waves 8-12 feet at the coast and 15-20 feet offshore. Rainfall of 1 inch or less is expected at the coast.  Tides are expected to be 1-4 feet above normal, with a risk of localized moderate flooding, but less than what Hampton Roads experienced during the November Nor’easter. The storm will be well north of the area by later in the day Friday, and the forecast for the holiday weekend is for sunny skies with seasonable temperatures throughout the Commonwealth. 

Some actions currently underway at the state level include:

•          The Virginia Emergency Operations Center in Richmond is at “response operations” and is coordinating the state’s preparation for the storm. Staffing has been increased on a 24-hour basis.
•          The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is making sure storm drains are clear in the Hampton Roads region. 
•          VDOT has prepositioned resources and performed a successful test of the Midtown Tunnel floodgates last night.
•          The Virginia National Guard is preparing 200 soldiers for possible post-storm response in the Hampton Roads region, moving personnel, vehicles and equipment in Hampton and Norfolk to support missions such as high-water transport and light debris removal.
•          The Virginia Department of State Police is sending additional troopers into the Hampton Roads region.  VSP is also prepositioning swift-water rescue teams in the Hampton Roads region and Richmond areas.
•          The Virginia Department of Social Services and Virginia Department of Health are on standby and prepared to open state-managed shelters if those are necessary.  Medical facilities are on standby.
•          The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is ready to provide sheltering for pets if necessary.
•          Volunteer agencies are preparing resources for response operations if needed, including trucks, equipment trailers, volunteers, fuel, food and water. 

More information about hurricane preparedness is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov and www.ListoVirginia.gov.  Virginians should call their local emergency manager for specific information about their area; a list of local emergency managers is available at http://www.vaemergency.com/library/directories/index.cfm.  General information about the storm and state’s efforts to prepare is available by dialing 2-1-1. Online videos that explain storm surge and evacuation routes are at http://www.youtube.com/vaemergency (captions are available). 

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News Release: Coast Guard prepares to ensure effective response

Date: September 2, 2010 
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
(757) 398-6272

Coast Guard prepares to ensure effective response
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Coast Guard units in the path of Hurricane Earl are making preparations to ensure an effective response in the wake of the storm Thursday. 
Coast Guard personnel, aircraft, boats and cutters in parts of North Carolina and Virginia are relocating to safe havens or taking shelter locally to minimize the storm’s impact on post-hurricane missions.

Each unit has a heavy weather plan that is designed to help mitigate the disruption of operations associated with inclement weather. These plans are triggered when the impact of severe weather is imminent. With Hurricane Earl approaching the North Carolina coast, the at-risk Coast Guard units have implemented their heavy weather plans. 

Coast Guard personnel and assets assigned to these units are relocating to a safe haven, getting underway or sheltering in place depending on their heavy weather plans.

Coast Guard air station in Elizabeth City, N.C., for example, has already relocated some of its aircraft to safe havens in order to ensure they are kept secure and are able to respond in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Some of the small boat stations along the coast of North Carolina have instead been ordered to shelter in place and weather the storm, as per their heavy weather plans. Preparations have also been made to help ensure that personnel can continue to monitor distress frequencies, even if a command center is impacted by the storm.

The Coast Guard is also working with state and regional emergency operation centers to coordinate preparedness and response efforts with other federal, state and local agencies. 

These strategic preparations are only part of the Coast Guard’s hurricane operations. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules crews have been flying missions to alert vessels at sea of the incoming storm and advise them to take appropriate action.

Captains of the Port for Hampton Roads and North Carolina have updated their respective port conditions to ensure the safety of their operations and infrastructure.

After the hurricane, the Coast Guard conducts assessments of aids to navigation, waterways, bridges and Coast Guard facilities to better direct response efforts. 

As the Coast Guard continues these preparations for Hurricane Earl, it also continues to urge mariners to also make the appropriate preparations and remain conscious of port, waterways and bridge conditions. 

For more information on Earl, visit the National Hurricane Center Web site http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ 

For more information regarding port status in your area, use the following contact information: 

Hampton Roads - 757-668-5555 

Baltimore - 410-576-2521 

North Carolina - 252-247-4570 

Philadelphia - 215-271-4960

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard — Proud History. Powerful Future.

News Release: Coast Guard sets port condition Yankee for Hampton Roads

Date: September 2, 2010
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
(757) 398-6272
Coast Guard sets port condition Yankee for Hampton Roads

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has set port condition Yankee for Hampton Roads in preparation for Hurricane Earl.

This condition means that gale force winds are possible within 24 hours at the Virginia Capes.

No vessel may enter the port of Hampton Roads without the permission of the Captain of the Port. Facility operators and agents should contact the Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads office at 757-441-3305 to request permission for vessels to enter the port. Boaters are urged to be cautious as the port can expect 25-knot winds with gusts of up to 30 knots from Thursday evening – Friday afternoon.

It is primarily the facility operator’s decision to allow vessels to remain moored during the passing of the hurricane. Facilities that do not allow vessels to remain moored must provide them with sufficient notice to allow vessels time to move to a safe mooring, hurricane anchorage, or depart to sea.

Facilities and vessels should communicate with each other regarding their plans. Facility operators should continue making preparations to ensure all loose cargo, cargo equipment and debris are safely secured. All vessel moorings should be reinforced.

Vessels anchored shall prepare for severe winds. Additional anchors should be made ready to let go and preparations should be made to have a continuous anchor watch. Also, vessels shall maintain a continuous listening watch on VHF Channel 16.

For additional information on the storm, visit the National Hurricane Center Web site at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/. Boaters can monitor its progress on NOAA weather radio.

Information can also be obtained on small craft advisories and warnings on VHF channel 22 A.

Contact Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads command center at 757-638-6635 for amplifying information. Call 757-668-5555, option 3 to reach the port condition hotline, for a recorded message of current hurricane conditions.

The port of Hampton Roads Maritime Heavy Weather Contingency Plan, which explains all port conditions, is available here.

All media inquiries should be directed to Lt. j.g. Scott McBride at 757-638-2493 or Lt. Jack Smith at 757-434-1858.

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Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard — Proud History. Powerful Future.

Newport News residents may call 757-269-2910 for a recorded storm related message, or contact the City’s Office of Emergency Management at 757-269-2900, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Residents may also visit the City’s website at www.nngov.com, Newport News TV (Cox channel 48, Verizon channel 19), or listen to AM 1700 radio for storm related and emergency preparedness information.

NEWS RELEASE: Chesapeake Virginia

Official Information Sources:  Media are reminded that ONLY information disseminated from the Chesapeake EOC is to be considered as official City information during and after the storm arrival. Media are encouraged to contact the Public Communications Desk in the EOC to confirm any other information reports.

As a precaution, three Virginia State Parks - First Landing and False Cape in Virginia Beach and Kiptopeke on the Eastern Shore will close at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, opening back up sometime on Friday.  Visit http://www.virginiastateparks.gov to confirm when reopened.

Visitors should stay informed about the weather when making decision about travel.  

Update: Transportation

•         Amtrak:

•         The following changes are effective today, Thursday:

Train 67 will terminate in Richmond, instead of Newport News.
Train 66 will originate in Richmond, instead of Newport News.
Train 95 will terminate in Washington, DC, instead of Newport News.

•         For Friday:

Train 66 will originate in Richmond instead of Newport News.
Train 94 will originate in Washington, instead of Newport News.
Train 95 will terminate in Washington, instead of Newport News.
Train 83 will terminate in Washington, instead of Newport News.
Train 78 is canceled.

•         For Saturday:

Train 194 will originate in Richmond instead of Newport News.
Train 82 will originate in Washington instead of Newport News.

•         The Northeast Regional trains to Lynchburg, the Crescent, Cardinal and Auto Train should continue to operate through Virginia.

•         Amtrak advises any travelers in the northeast to keep an eye on weather conditions over the weekend and check http://www.amtrak.com for updates.