Team Norfolk - Hurricane Irma Update - 9-6-27 @ 6:30pm

Team -

No doubt you have been following the track of Hurricane Irma (click on link and see VDEM storm dashboard below), and no doubt you’ve also noticed the recent changes in its track.  Internally, our conversations and response efforts began over the holiday weekend with “what if?” scenarios – planning for the worse and hoping for the best.  Based on the latest tracks, these discussions have not been for naught. 

We have reached out to several partners already and today initiated 24-hour operational periods with daily situation reports and Emergency Operations Center briefings.  In other words, based on our plans and checklists, we are focusing on those immediate tasks based on our hurricane readiness level from 4:00pm today through 4:00pm tomorrow while our Planning section is always looking ahead modifying or establishing goals and objectives for the following 24-hour operating period.  This is the Incident Command System.

A proactive unity of effort is what we strive for throughout Team Norfolk Emergency Operations.  As such, you are part of this process.  Therefore, starting tomorrow (9-7-17), please send your storm response status as well as your intentions / needs for the next 24-hour period no later than 2pm to EOC-Plans@norfolk.gov.  (If you know your long-term resource needs feel free to share them as well).  Our daily Team Norfolk EOC Briefing call will commence at 3pm followed by an internal conversation among our Policy Cell at 4pm.  Please be advised: the EOC Briefing call will in fact be brief.  An update on the threat will be provided as well as a status on the unified goals and objectives.  Resource needs should have already been submitted through the situation reports and thus will be included in the briefing, but only as confirmation.  These calls are to ensure shared situational awareness while not delaying preparedness efforts.

If you do not receive an invitation to participate on the EOC Briefings, please do not be offended.  It is merely due to the fact there are only so many ports available.  All that is provided and discussed will be shared without delay!

More to follow tomorrow, including the latest copy of our Basic Plan and Hurricane Annex as well as the accompanied Battle Rhythm (checklist of action items for each hurricane readiness level).  Please read it and challenge it so it can be improved!  Also, in order to ensure a comprehensive community response to the storm(s), please remember to submit a situation report no later than 2pm every day until the storm dictates otherwise (sitreps become more frequent or the storm blows away).

Ladies and Gentlemen – this is what we do.  We have our plans in place and we have each other = TEAM NORFOLK.  Please take this time to prepare personally and for your family.  Hurricane Irma could prove to be the real deal and we’ll need all hands-on deck to respond and recover.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you!!

Jim

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

Team Norfolk - Hurricane Irma - 9-6-17 @ 3pm

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please see the following update from Jeff Orrock, Meteorologist in Charge for the National Weather Service in Wakefield:

“I know everyone has been watching the forecast track of Hurricane Irma intently. We are still in the long-range stage of predictions with this system and forecasts will change, however, given trends in the guidance over the past few days turning the storm north our concern is increasing (see attached images of NHC forecast track and guidance uncertainty). There is good agreement that Irma will make a turn to the north at some point, the main questions are; when and how far does Irma track west before turning? The answers to these questions will eventually determine impacts on our region and the timing of those impacts. 

At this stage given all the guidance, it is becoming more likely that we will see some degree of impacts in regards to wind, heavy rain/flooding and tidal flooding. The extent and timing of each of these possible impacts depend on the track of the storm. The EARLIEST timing for increasing winds would be some time Monday into Tuesday. 

Summary:

• Hurricane Irma becoming more of a concern for early next week.
• Hurricane Irma could be a major hurricane posing a threat to the Carolinas Monday into Tuesday. 
• Mid-Atlantic region will like experience various impacts from Irma
• Exact track, impacts and timing of those impacts remains uncertain
• Forecasts issued Thursday will likely place at least southern VA and NC within the 5-day forecast error cone and on the edge of Tropical Storm Force Wind probabilities. 

We will send out an update again tomorrow to help set the tone regarding any changes in the forecast.” 

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Thanks, Jeff, and thanks everyone!

Jim

Jim Redick, Director
Norfolk EOC