Thursday, September 04, 2008
Governor declares state of emergency in advance of tropical storm
The governor said evacuations are unlikely, however.
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency this morning in advance of Tropical Storm Hanna’s arrival.
The declaration allowed Kaine to direct state agencies to prepare for a quick response in the event of damage caused by the storm, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office.
“Current forecasts predict Hanna will bring tropical storm force winds to Virginia, causing coastal flooding and the very real possibility of tornadoes and power outages," Kaine said in the release. "Virginians should listen to their local government representatives and local news media for instructions for the duration of the storm."
Kaine told reporters during a teleconference Thursday there are no plans to evacuate coastal residents as the storm makes it way up the Atlantic coast. He said that prospect appears unlikely, based on Hanna's likely path.
The governor said the latest forecasts suggest the Virginia coast could see winds of 40 to 60 mph, rainfall of 2 to 4 inches and tides 2 to 4 feet above normal.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has prepared the Virginia Emergency Operations Center, and the Virginia State Police, Virginia National Guard and Virginia Department of Transportation have additional personnel on standby to respond to areas in the storm's path.
More information about what Virginia is doing to prepare for Tropical Storm Hanna is available at www.vaemergency.com. Detailed information about how Virginians can stay safe during an emergency is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov and www.ListoVirginia.gov.
