The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) is reminding local officials that it only takes one storm to have a significant impact on the Commonwealth. During the 2026 Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) Hurricane Readiness Briefing, state officials emphasized that Virginia’s emergency preparedness efforts remain fully engaged and urged local governments to continue planning and coordination efforts as the season enters its most active months.
Meteorologists noted there is a 97 percent chance that El Niño conditions will persist through spring 2027. While El Niño typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity by increasing wind shear, officials cautioned that Virginia has experienced several significant storms during previous El Niño years, including Hurricanes Fran, Bonnie, Joaquin, and Florence. The message to local governments was clear: preparedness remains essential regardless of seasonal forecasts.
Throughout the briefing, VDEM reinforced a guiding principle of emergency management: all disasters are local disasters. Response begins at the local level, is regionally coordinated, managed by the Commonwealth, and supported by federal partners when necessary. Emergency managers serve primarily as coordinators, bringing together agencies and resources to support local response and recovery efforts.
State officials also reviewed the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP), which provides the framework for coordinating disaster response across state agencies while supporting local governments, businesses, and residents. The plan establishes responsibilities for executive branch agencies and includes a dedicated Hurricane and Tropical Storm Annex outlining decision points before, during, and after storm landfall.
For local governments, hurricane planning extends well beyond coastal communities. Officials stressed the importance of evacuation planning, public communication, continuity of operations, insurance preparedness, and public education through Virginia’s Know Your Zone program. The briefing also highlighted the complexities of evacuation decisions, including traffic management, contraflow operations, sheltering, and re-entry planning, all of which require close coordination between localities and state agencies.
Representatives from VDOT, the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia State Police, the Department of Military Affairs, the Department of Social Services, and VDEM outlined their respective hurricane preparedness and response responsibilities. Topics included traffic management, public health coordination, debris removal, mass care and shelter operations, damage assessments, resource requests, and emergency communications, illustrating the whole-of-government approach Virginia employs during major disasters.
The briefing also showcased several tools available to support local preparedness, including the Virginia Flood Monitoring System, enhanced statewide 9-1-1 support capabilities, enterprise GIS mapping resources, and VDEM’s Partners in Preparedness program, which works with local governments and community organizations to improve outreach and disaster readiness across the Commonwealth.
As hurricane season progresses toward its historical peak, VDEM encouraged local officials to review emergency plans, strengthen partnerships with state agencies, and ensure residents are familiar with available preparedness resources. Hurricane evacuation guides, inland impacts guides, and additional planning materials are available through VDEM to assist communities in preparing before storms threaten Virginia.
VACo Contact: Jeremy R. Bennett