Team Norfolk Winter Weather Update 1-8-17 @ 6pm

Good afternoon, Team Norfolk!

As you may be well aware, cold temps continued today with high’s in the low 20’s, wind gusts in mid-20’s and wind chill in single digits.  At the same time, the sun was out and added to the work of plowing and shoveling!  In fact, much progress has been made on the roads and around city buildings today.  Men and women of Norfolk Public Works, Recreation, Parks and Open Space, General Services, Sheriff’s Office, and contractor support have been braving the conditions to clear roads, walks and garages.  VDOT also deserves kudos, not just because of the many assets they’ve provided upon request, but the highways look great!

Under these dangerous conditions, I’m thrilled to announce the successful efforts to provide daytime accommodations over the weekend (and tomorrow) for our residents experiencing homelessness - where 105 guests were able to remain safe from the cold today alone!!  Norfolk has some amazing and compassionate volunteers throughout the Community Services Board and the Office to End Homelessness!  Special thanks also to our friends at Operation Blessing and the Salvation Army for donating food!  And of course the wonderful volunteers and houses or worship of the NEST (Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team) program who provide critical overnight lodging to these Norfolkians.  We are blessed by the amount of work and coordination of so many to protect our friends and neighbors from threatening conditions which are truly a matter of life and limb.

Speaking of helping others, Jody Gettys of Operation Blessing who coordinates our Snow Buddy program, reported a “GREAT day out helping residents who TRULY needed assistance”!  Details and stories will be forthcoming, but they had 7 teams of volunteers dispatched and completed 27 work order requests!  196 are in the queue for a total of 226 work orders received!  Again, some may have to be cancelled if there are not enough volunteers.  With so many closures tomorrow, if you know of anyone whose schedule just opened up and they may feel led to help others, please have them call 757-374-0944.  Equipment will be provided!!

Slight improvement in the weather is expected tomorrow (Monday) when temps “rise” to upper 20’s and wind chill in low 20’s, and more freezing will occur overnight resulting in a dangerous morning commute.  Therefore, City of Norfolk offices, recreations centers and libraries will be closed.  The following partners also shared their Monday Closure status with the EOC: Norfolk Public Schools, Courts, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University and Tidewater Community College.  (Please refer to their sites for details and official information).  Our friends NAVSTA Norfolk also announced Mission Essential Personnel for Monday and Hampton Roads Transit announced their Emergency Snow Plan will be in effect Monday.  “Hampton Roads Transit will provide limited bus, rail and ferry services starting Monday morning as the region continues to recover from the weekend storm that left roads and bridges covered in ice and snow.  HRT’s Emergency Snow Plan is designed to provide basic public transit services along the region’s major transportation corridors using 11 designated routes. These routes are different from normal local routes and customers are urged to visit gohrt.com to see where the nearest route operates and what areas they serve.”

At this time there are no outstanding needs/requests.  If that changes, or you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me!  In the meantime, enjoy the pics below.  First reflects a team of some special people who have stepped up to help others through our Snow Buddies program!  The other is a birds-eye view overlooking Scope Arena provided by the talented John Ehlers, on whom we rely for damage assessment information captured by his drone!

Jim
Director, Norfolk EOC
james.redick@norfolk.gov