RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia residents are being urged to stay home Tuesday evening as the state prepares for another winter storm, expected to hit Central Virginia early Wednesday morning. With the storm looming, Governor Glenn Youngkin held a press conference on February 18 to provide an update on the state’s preparedness and warn citizens of the potential dangers.
Youngkin emphasized that Virginia remains in a formal State of Emergency, urging residents to follow safety protocols for their own well-being and the safety of others. “If you are not where you want to be by midnight tonight, don’t go,” he advised, highlighting the importance of staying off the roads once the weather begins to worsen.
The storm, which is expected to arrive in Central Virginia around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, comes on the heels of significant damage caused by last week’s winter weather. Downed trees and debris still litter the landscape, further complicating an already challenging situation.
“I need everybody to understand that the state of emergency continues, and if there wasn’t one already declared, I would be declaring one today,” said Youngkin, reinforcing the severity of the situation.
Last week’s storm left 450,000 Virginians without power, surpassing the outages caused by Hurricane Helene in 2000. With the state still reeling from those impacts, the Commonwealth is bracing for round two, especially as hazardous weather conditions are expected to compound the recovery efforts.
“We’re dealing with road closures all across southwest Virginia,” Youngkin explained. “During the flood events over the weekend, we saw 408 road closures, though that number has been reduced to 149, mostly affecting secondary roads.”
While Virginia is no stranger to severe weather, the ongoing recovery from recent events has highlighted the state’s need for a strong emergency response. Officials have assured that resources are in place to manage the situation. The National Guard has been deployed, Virginia State Police are on a 24-hour shift notice, and teams are monitoring critical infrastructure, including the water systems in Richmond.
The recent “Richmond Water Crisis,” which left many residents without access to clean water after a January snowstorm, remains fresh in the minds of many Virginians. The storm’s impact on local utilities demonstrated the vulnerability of essential services during natural disasters.
Governor Youngkin, however, expressed confidence in the state’s ability to manage the crisis. “We can get through this,” he said. “What I’ve recognized is that Virginians are extraordinary. Our first responders are extraordinary.”
Virginia’s Attorney General, Jason Miyares, also spoke during the press event, stressing that price gouging is illegal during a State of Emergency. He warned businesses that any attempts to unfairly raise prices for essential goods like water, batteries, and other emergency supplies would be prosecuted. “Businesses should not be increasing what they charge unless they can prove those increases reflect actual increased costs,” Miyares stated.
The governor concluded his remarks with a call for Virginians to support one another in the coming days. “Across the Commonwealth, we have seen one important trait: Virginians looking after Virginians,” he said. “I just want to encourage everyone to check on your neighbors and make sure that you’re staying close.”
As the storm approaches, state leaders are urging caution and preparedness, with the hope that residents will heed the advice to stay safe and help each other during what is expected to be another challenging weather event.
