Norfolk declares state of emergency, prepares for winter weather

*The video above aired on Friday night in WAVY News 10 at 11 p.m.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk’s city manager has declared a state of emergency for Norfolk for winter weather expected Friday into Saturday morning.

The emergency declaration allows Norfolk to ask for state and federal resources and seek state and federal reimbursement if the cost of the storm reaches a certain threshold. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has also declared a state of emergency for the commonwealth.

Officials say the public works crews will start plowing once snow depth reaches 2 inches and conditions are safe to do so. Their first priority will be primary roads and emergency facilities.

“We continue to put down brine and salt operations continue,” Jim Redick, Norfolk’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response told 10 On Your Side. “We aren’t at 2” of accumulation and that’s when plows go down. We are hoping with a snowfall of ~1/2” of snow per hour, our crews will hopefully keep our primary routes passable.  This is kind  of a waiting game to see what the night’s conditions bring.”  

The city has been brining all bridges and major intersections and has  23 plow trucks, 16 pickup trucks fitted with plows, 21 spreaders and four salt brine distributor trucks, Filer says.

City crews will begin clearing snow from primary snow routes followed by secondary snow routes. The city doesn’t plow neighborhood streets.

Downtown street parking is closed on Boush Street, Granby Street, Plume Street, Main Street, City Hall Avenue (in front of Fairfax Building), and the 400 block of Monticello Avenue to allow for plowing. A city garage at York Street opened Thursday and will stay open until Sunday, January 23 at 5 p.m.

Downtown Norfolk Council’s Clean Team Ambassadors will focus their efforts on keeping access to crosswalks and storm drains clear in the event of any accumulating snow. They will also shovel a clear path from the main entrances of apartment and condominium buildings to the curb.

Below are important contact numbers to report:

• A water main break to Department of Utilities at (757) 823-1000.
• A power outage or downed power lines to Dominion at (866) 366-4357.
• A natural gas leak or emergency to Virginia Natural Gas at (877) 572.3342.

Residents can find more information and additional updates at www.norfolk.gov, the city’s social media platforms or by signing up for Norfolk Alert at www.norfolk.gov/alert.