While much uncertainty remains in the forecast track of Hurricane Sandy, the City of Richmond is taking the storm very seriously and has taken several steps to help ensure resident safety.
· Essential personnel have been placed on standby.
· An escalating personnel plan is in place to ensure that the City has adequate coverage throughout the anticipated event.
· The City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will open at 8 a.m. Sunday, October 28, and will remain open as needed to coordinate the City’s storm response efforts.
· The City has identified emergency relief shelters that will open, beginning on Sunday, to serve displaced families.
· The City has revised its homeless services plan in anticipation of the storm.
Due to anticipated power outages, the City will open two emergency shelters: Linwood Holton Elementary School, 1600 West Laburnum Avenue, and at J. H. Blackwell Elementary School, 1600 Everett Street.
Anyone seeking shelter should proceed to these shelter locations.
If your area frequently loses power during storms, you are advised to proceed to the shelter nearest you prior to the strongest parts of the storm affecting the area. Water and refreshments will be provided.
The City is partnering with GRTC to provide transportation for residents who do not have transportation to a shelter. A schedule will be provided when it become available.
Pets, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed within the shelters. Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) will have staff at both shelter locations to collect pets of residents seeking shelter. Dogs, cats, birds and pocket pets will be accepted.
Agricultural animals and reptiles will not be accepted. Residents seeking shelter for their pets should bring their pet’s carrier with them. All animals must be current on rabies vaccinations and owners must bring proof of such. Pet owners must be officially registered at a shelter in order to have their pet housed at RACC.
The Freedom House Conrad Center will serve as a homeless shelter beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, October 27 through 6:30 p.m., Monday, October 29. The Conrad Center is located at 1400 Oliver Hill Way.
Homeless persons needing shelter tonight should go to Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, 14 West Duval Street. The shelter opens at 7 p.m. tonight and closes the tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. Food will not be provided and pets are not allowed.
All residents are encouraged to treat this storm seriously by taking precautions now in preparation for any impact from this hurricane. Residents should go to www.RichmondGov.com for a detailed list of storm precautions.
Residents are strongly advised to stay tuned to local TV and radio stations for the most current storm information. In the event your home loses electrical power, plan to have a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio and extra batteries ready so that you can access weather information and instructions from officials.
For up-to-date information and additional instructions from the city of Richmond during the storm, please visit www.Richmondgov.com, follow the City on Twitter @CityRichmondVA, and stay tuned to local radio and television stations.