<p> Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Virginia Emergency Response Team (VERT) 2009-12 Winter Storm Event SITUATION REPORT # 10 0700 Hours December 23, 2009</p><p>SUMMARY</p><p>A significant winter weather event impacted the Middle Atlantic region, 18 December, through Saturday, 19 December, and resulted in heavy snow across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unofficial snowfall totals for the western portion of the Commonwealth are over 24 inches, Central Virginia 8 to 16 inches and Northern Virginia 16 to 24 inches of snow. </p><p>EXECUTIVE ACTION</p><p>EOC Activation: VEOC is at Response Operations with limited Virginia Emergency Response Team activation. </p><p>State of Emergency: Governor Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency on 18 December 2009. This declaration has been issued under Executive Order 105. Executive Order 105</p><p>Protective Actions: Local Emergency Operation Centers Open: 5 Map of Local EOC's VDEM Region 3: 1 VDEM Region 4: 4</p><p>Local Emergencies Declared: 36 Map of Local Declarations VDEM Region 1: 2 VDEM Region 2: 5 VDEM Region 3: 3 VDEM Region 4: 10 VDEM Region 6: 7 VDEM Region 7: 9</p><p>Map of VDEM Regions</p><p>VERT OPERATIONS Priority continues to be coordination and assistance to local jurisdictions, specifically the provision of water, cots, and blankets to Dickenson, Wise, Buchanan, Tazewell, and Russell Counties.</p><p>The State Coordinator of Emergency Management issued a Limited Exemption of Hours worked for carriers transporting motor, home heating fuels, and road treatment chemicals. Exemptions are granted for the period beginning 0600 21 December 2009 and continuing until 1200 20 January 2009, or whenever the crisis has abated, whichever is soonest. </p><p>Requests for Assistance – 122 Totals Received: In Progress – 26; Declined – 5; Cancelled – 22 Completed – 69 ESF 1 (Transportation): 7 ESF 4 (Firefighting): 8 ESF 6 (Mass Care): 13 ESF 7 (Logistics): 37 ESF 8 (Health and Human Services): 2 ESF 15 (External Affairs): 1 ESF 16 (Military Affairs): 52 ESF 17 (Volunteers and Donations): 1 Missions Delivered, In Transit, or Accepted Water Missions – 140,004 gallons Meal Missions – 8,426 meals Generators – 6</p><p>Local Support Services: Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Regions 4 and 6 Coordinators demobilized; on call to assist localities as required. </p><p>Transportation (ESF 1): Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) VDOT and DMV issued a weight waiver to Carriers transporting Essential Emergency Relief Supplies effective 1200 hours 20 December 2009 until 20 January 2010. Conditions have improved on interstate and primary roads. Working on I-495/95 to remove piled snow from shoulder areas. Icy spots are possible on all roads, overpasses, and bridges due to refreezing. Many secondary and urban roads remain in severe condition.</p><p>Supplying forklifts to Wise County to assist in water distribution.</p><p>Communication (ESF 2): Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA) Moderate wireless service issues in Southwest Virginia due to power loss at cell sites.</p><p>Firefighting (ESF 4): Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) Russell County: Incident Management Teams assisting County Emergency Coordinator.</p><p>Buchanan County: 4 chainsaw crews working to clear trees from secondary roads to assist snow plow operations. </p><p>Dickenson County: Chainsaw crews assisting the county in cutting trees to gain access down roads to stranded residents with special needs. Accepted dozer mission to clear road to communications tower.</p><p>Wise County: Dozer and 5 personnel working to remove trees and clear the road up to the top of High Knob.</p><p>Mass Care (ESF 6): Virginia Department of Social Services There are 16 local shelters open and operational providing services, in VDEM Region 4, for approximately 350 people.</p><p>Health & Medical (ESF 8): Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Chief Medical Examiner reports 7 deaths; 6 confirmed storm related with 1 pending. Buchanan General Hospital has water being supplied by a contracted tanker. Dickenson Community Hospital is still on emergency generator power.</p><p>Boil water notices are in the process of being jointly issued between the Office of Drinking Water – Abingdon Field Office and the local health districts for the following affected jurisdictions: Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Lee, Scott, and Wise due to power outages affecting water distribution systems.</p><p>Energy (ESF 12): State Corporation Commission Map of Power Outages in Southwest VA Electrical Power As of 0600 hours, 23 December, known customer power outage is: Appalachian Power 28,050 Kentucky Utilities 8,600 Powell Valley Cooperative 900 Total 37,550</p><p>Appalachian Power anticipates completing restoration to most customers in Smyth and Washington Counties by Tuesday midnight. They anticipate completing restoration in the remaining counties by the end of Friday. 2</p><p>Kentucky Utilities anticipates completing restoration to most customers by the end of Wednesday with restoration complete on Thursday. Kentucky Utility is assisting the CARFAX Road facility (Wise County) with 2 generators.</p><p>Long-term Recovery (ESF 14): Virginia Department of Emergency Management Documenting emergency response cost estimates and reviewing snowfall accumulations to assess eligibility for federal assistance.</p><p>External Affairs (ESF 15) Virginia Department of Emergency Management Continue to handle media inquiries; however, media interest has decreased. Prepared and distributed news release detailing state agency actions to support local efforts. Posted information to vaemergency.com and Twitter. </p><p>Military Support (ESF 16): Department of Military Affairs (DMA) As of 0444 hrs 23 December 2009, 521 VA National Guard members remain on state active duty in support of response operations. Focused in VDEM Region 4 are 121 Guard members in Buchanan, Russell, Dickenson, Wise, and Lee Counties. Mission sets are shelter support, assistance to local emergency officials, transportation, distribution, and evacuation. </p><p>Volunteers and Donations Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Management (ESF 17): Coordinating with ESF 6 to assess shelter needs and locate resources to fill those needs. Red Cross representative is in VEOC with ESF 6. The Red Cross and Virginia Baptists are implementing a feeding operation for several SW counties. The Baptists’ mobile kitchen, stationed at the Applachia High School in Wise County, will prepare about 1,000 meals per day; the Red Cross emergency response vehicles will deliver two meals a day to shelters in Wise, Dickenson, and Russell counties as needed. </p><p>In Lebanon, 25-50 volunteers are needed mid-afternoon, 23 December and 24 December to distribute water. Bristol CERT Coordinator, soliciting for volunteers, as is Wise CERT Coordinator, Southwest Virginia MRC, and VAVOAD.</p><p>WEATHER FORECAST: WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER Southwest/West Central VA: Partly sunny; high temperatures in the low 40’s; overnight low temperatures mid 20’s; light and variable winds Northwest/Northern VA: Mostly sunny, high temperatures in mid to upper 30’s; overnight low temperatures low 20’s; northwest winds 6 to 10 mph Central/Eastern VA: Mostly sunny, high temperatures low 40’s; overnight low temperatures mid 20’s; north winds 6 mph </p><p>WEATHER FORECAST: THURSDAY 24 DECEMBER Southwest/West Central VA: Sunny; high temperatures upper 30’s; overnight low temperatures upper 20’s; light and variable winds. Chance of precipitation 70% consisting of freezing rain and sleet Northwest/Northern VA: Mostly sunny, high temperatures upper 30’s; overnight low temperatures mid to upper 20’s; north winds 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 20%, likely freezing rain; beginning early Christmas morning Central/Eastern VA: Mostly sunny, high temperatures near low 40’s; overnight low temperatures mid to upper 20’s. Chance of precipitation 20%, likely freezing rain</p><p>HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK: Storm system expected to affect the Commonwealth beginning late Thursday and into Friday, 24 and 25 December, with possibility of a mix of wintry precipitation on Thursday changing to all rain on Friday which may lead to flooding. </p><p>Prepared by: Joan Landrum and Matt Lott Authority of Michael Cline, State Coordinator /s/ Michael Nelson, VERT Coordinator</p><p>3</p>