Hurricane Florence Preparation, FAQ
Recent Weather Update
Based on the latest weather briefing from National Weather Service – Blacksburg, Hurricane Florence could cause significant rainfall and potential flooding in our region before Monday, Sept. 17. For the latest weather information, please visit the NWS – Blacksburg Facebook page.
Key Safety Messages:
- Prepare an emergency kit and enough food and water to last for at least 72 hours.
- Do not attempt to drive in flowing water. #TurnAroundDontDrown
- If you require special health or medical accommodations in Emergency Situations and power outages, please fill out the confidential Emergency Needs Registry form.
- For immediate updates, please enter your phone number into Emergency Management’s Reverse 9-1-1 Citizen Phone Alert system.
- To report a power outage, please contact Appalachian Power at 1-800-956-4237.
- To report a water or sewage emergency, please contact the Western Virginia Water Authority at 540-853-5700.
- Calls or texts to 911 should be reserved for medical, fire, or police emergency situations only.
Preparing for the storm FAQ:
1. What do I need at home before the storm?
Residents are asked to prepare for the storm by gathering emergency supplies in advance:
– Three-day supply of water and non-perishable food
– Emergency cash and small bills (stores may run out of change and be unable to process card transactions)
– Extra food and supplies for pets and infants (don’t forget leashes for animals and identification tags)
– One-week supply of medications and prescription copies
– Flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, antibiotic ointment
– Make list of important phone numbers
– Blankets, sleeping bags, and warm clothes
– Critical paperwork in waterproof bag (Driver’s license, birth certificates, social security cards, prescription medicine labels, wills, proof of residence, medical and vaccination records, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, etc.)
Download the full emergency kit checklist provided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Download Emergency Preparedness Booklets provided by the Office of Refugee Resettlement translated in English, Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Farsi, French, Nepali, Somali, Tibetan, Tigrinya, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Sgaw Karen, and Karenni.
2. Is my home located in a floodplain?
Please check the City of Roanoke’s GIS website, click on the “Layers” menu tab, then select “Planning”, then select the “Flood Zones” option. This will generate a rendering of Roanoke’s floodway and 100 year floodplain.
3. Where can I buy sandbags?
The City of Roanoke is not providing sandbags. Residents can order pre-filled bags online. Big box stores, hardware stores, military surplus stores, and gun stores in the region may also have small quantities of sand bags on hand.
4. My home is in an area that is prone to flooding. What can I do now to prevent flooding?
Please clear out your roof gutters and clean leaves and debris from stormdrain inlets or ditch lines near your property. Remember to elevate all valuable items off of the ground, particularly in basements.
5. How can I keep my family safe?
If your family needs to find alternate shelter, develop a plan for where they will go. Keep a copy of important phone numbers that you can dial from a landline phone in the event that cell phones are inoperable.
Important Update from Regional Partners:
On September 11, the City of Roanoke and regional agencies hosted a joint press conference. Download the video’s transcript [PDF] [Word Document] [View with ASL Interpretation]
To go directly to the webpage click here: https://roanokeva.gov/2443/13791/Hurricane-Florence-FAQ
