August is Emergency Management Awareness month

August is National Emergency Management Awareness Month, recognizing the professionals who work behind the scenes to help communities prepare for and respond to emergencies.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management recognizes that firefighters, law enforcement officers and EMS professionals are often the most visible during an emergency.

But did you know that emergency managers play a critical role in coordinating the response?

They connect agencies, bring together resources and build partnerships between government, first responders, nonprofits, businesses and the communities they serve.

Emergency managers help communities prepare for disasters, respond when emergencies happen, recover afterward and become more resilient for the future.

This month, officials are recognizing emergency managers across Virginia for their dedication to keeping communities prepared and strengthening the Commonwealth’s ability to respond when disaster strikes.

For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management at vdem.virginia.gov.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Dramatic traffic stop leads to manhunt schools

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Patch used by permission of Lt. Robert Sell of the JCSO

A dramatic incident unfolded yesterday on Route 9, prompting swift action from law enforcement and Jefferson County Schools.

What began as a routine traffic stop took a sudden turn when five individuals fled on foot from a vehicle, initiating an immediate pursuit by deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

As the manhunt began, law enforcement acted quickly, contacting Jefferson County Schools to ensure the safety of students and staff in the vicinity.

Thanks to the district’s immediate cooperation, the Secure Protocol was activated, successfully keeping everyone inside the affected schools safe and protected throughout the emergency.

The Sheriff’s Office confirms that all five suspects have since been apprehended, and charges are pending in connection with the incident.

Authorities are recognizing the quick response from all involved, calling Thursday’s events a powerful reminder of how vital it is for the community to respond together.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

 

Winchester & WPS to conduct emergency exercise

The City of Winchester and Winchester Public Schools announce a full scale emergency exercise that will be taking place on Saturday October 4th from 8am to noon.

This exercise will be held at and around John Kerr Elementary School.

Be aware of any public disruptions with a great presence of emergency vehicles with some lights and sirens.

Increased traffic along Meadow Branch Avenue near JKES, Amherst Street between Hawthorn Drive and Winchester Medical Center, Cork Street and Purcell Avenue near Daniel Morgan Middle School.

This exercise will leave Meadow Branch avenue closed between Meadow Branch apartments to Merrimans Lane.

This emergency exercise will be a simulated scenario with a focus on the emergency response to an active threat inside a school. The goal is to assess readiness of first responders and school staff for a coordinated and timely response if a threat were to occur.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

September is National Preparedness Month!

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s theme this year is “Preparedness Starts at Home.”

They encouraging everyone to take four simple steps to get ready for any emergency:

1. Know the risks in your area and how to stay safe.

2. Make a family emergency plan.

3. Build an emergency supply kit.

4. Get involved, help your community prepare too!

Start today. Being ready starts with you at home.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

For the second time in as many weeks Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office saves a life

News to know valley graphic created by Royal Broadcasting employee Brooke Greene used by permission

For the second time in as many weeks Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office reports saving a life in an emergency.

Rappahannock County Communications Center received a call of an allergic reaction to a bee sting.

Communications Specialist Vickie Miller and Brandon Stroupe dispatched Emergency Medical Personnel to the scene.

While in route Miller remained on the phone and instructed the caller how to properly use an EPI Pen.

Rappahannock Sheriff Connie Compton heard the call and made her way to assist. Deputy Robert Fincham arrived after Compton, and both began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on the victim.

Once medical personnel arrived the patient was secured and flown to the trauma center.

Thanks to the fast action of Rappahannock County first responders a life was saved thanks to emergency medical training.

Training is offered by many Fire and Rescue departments throughout the region by contacting your local department.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

 

FEMA is approved to assist Virginia in Helene recovery

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been approved by President Biden to assist Virginia in recovery from Helene.

This means that federal funding has become available to the state and certain nonprofits organizations on a cost sharing basis for emergency in the hardest hit areas.

Direct assistance is available for Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wyth Counties and the City of Galax.

Governor Youngkin visited Damascus in Southwest Virginia September 29 to assess the storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene and emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting the affected communities in their recovery efforts.

Over 50 swift water crews were deployed with helicopter air support and able to help stranded people in Washington County in the city of Damascus where substantial flooding was recorded particularly at Radford University.

A Virginia State Police helicopter was dispatched to assist at least 50 people on the roof of a hospital in Tennessee.

In Virginia one fatality occurred in Craig County when a tree fell causing a building collapse.

Five counties including Augusta were under voluntary evacuation recommendations during the brunt of the storm.

Governor Youngkin said the recovery from this storm is going to take some time.

He also commended the efforts of all first responders in answering the call.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Warren County recognized as StormReady

lightning

Warren County has been recognized as a StormReady County by the National Weather Service.

The agency’s Warning coordination Meteorologist Christopher Strong made the recognition at the May 7 Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The National Weather Service program empowers communities to take a proactive approach to hazardous weather.

To be recognized, a community must:

– Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center.
– Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public.
– Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally.
– Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars.
– Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

 

Winchester firefighters: Maintain fire extinguishers

Drew DeHaven

Winchester firefighters remind residents of the importance of maintaining a working fire extinguisher after responding to a kitchen fire this week in which the occupant put out the fire using one.

Firefighters responded to the residence on Tuesday, Winchester Fire and Rescue said Friday. The resident had a fire on top of the stove and used a fire extinguisher to put it out. It was the fourth such incident in six months that city firefighters responded to, the department said.

Officials remind residents to keep well-maintained fire extinguishers, especially in hazardous areas like kitchens, garages and basements. It’s also important to maintain working smoke alarms, they said.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.