The new state health commissioner, Dr. Cameron Webb, urged Virginians on Friday to prepare for the approaching winter storm that could bring ice, wind and power outages across the state.
Conditions could vary widely across Virginia, Webb said in an interview Friday, with ice accumulation and strong winds increasing the risk of downed power lines in some regions.
Webb encouraged residents to keep cellphones fully charged and, if possible, to have a backup power source available.
“We’re encouraging everybody to reach out to family, friends, loved ones, neighbors. Reach out and connect and make sure everybody’s OK because the storm’s going to affect different folks in different ways,” Webb said.
Keeping phones charged will also allow residents to receive updates and advisories from local governments and health districts, which will continue to issue guidance throughout the storm.
Webb also stressed the importance of charging medical devices ahead of time, noting that a fully charged device before an outage could help residents avoid health complications.
Emergency medical services will continue to operate during the storm, but response times may be longer than normal due to hazardous road conditions. Webb urged residents to call for help early rather than waiting until a situation becomes a crisis.
He also advised seniors and people with chronic conditions to refill prescriptions in advance and ensure they have enough medication to last through the storm. Residents should stay off the roads as much as possible, he said.
Additional safety tips from Webb include:
- People with special needs who require food delivery should call 211 or contact their local government for assistance.
- If you’re struggling to stay warm, seek out a warming shelter early.
- Keep space heaters away from clutter and flammable materials.
- Check that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
- Make a plan for meals using nonperishable foods, especially for those with specific dietary needs.
- Ensure that pet food and supplies are well-stocked.