Category Archives: disaster preparedness

Precautionary Closing Of Lee Bridge

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Heard the sirens this morning, but did not see anything mentioned in the news until later…

From Times Dispatch:

The Lee Bridge is closed to traffic this morning as fire and rail officials investigate if a train in close proximity to the bridge is leaking fuel.

Lt. Chris Armstrong with the Richmond Fire Department said train officials are on the scene. Authorities are investigating whether a car carrying petroleum is leaking or simply venting, which is a normal procedure when there is excess product inside, Armstrong said.

Related, older post: https://www.oregonhill.net/2014/07/11/train-derailment-explosion-risk/

Update: I am hearing the bridge is open again.

Update 2: “Loose valve on rail car carrying propane caused Lee Bridge shutdown”

City Encourages Hazard Mitigation Planning; Meeting Friday

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From City press release:

Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond’s Office of Emergency Management invites public comment on a regional Hazard Mitigation Plan that is presently being updated.
A meeting will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the Richmond Regional PDC, Board Room, 9211 Forest Hill Ave, Suite 200, Richmond VA 23235.

Disasters can devastate a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being. Hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the potential impact of future disasters.
Mitigation planning is a key process to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. It positions local leaders to take action prior to a disaster, to reduce impacts when a disaster occurs. Using local knowledge and expertise to plan today, allows localities to plan, design, and build their community and builds partnerships for risk reduction throughout the community.

Having a hazard mitigation plan will:
· increase awareness of hazards, risk, and vulnerabilities;
· identify actions for risk reduction;
· focus resources on the greatest risks;
· communicate priorities to state and federal officials; and
· increase overall awareness of hazards and risks.

The 26 localities of the Richmond and Crater regions work together to update the Richmond-Crater Multi-Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify vulnerabilities associated with natural disasters and develop long-term strategies to reduce or eliminate long-term risks.
While nothing can be done to prevent natural hazard events from occurring, the region is poised to minimize the disruption and devastation that so often accompanies disasters, increasing the region’s resiliency.

Attend the meeting below to help break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. Please come to provide comment on the plan.

Friday, December 16
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Richmond Regional PDC, Board Room
9211 Forest Hill Ave, Suite 200
Richmond VA 23235
For additional information please contact Bill Lawson, Emergency Planner, Office of Emergency Management, at 804-646-5281 or William.Lawson@Richmondgov.com.

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It’s National Preparedness Month

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It’s now September, and with Tropical Storm Hermine coming in this direction, its a good time to remind everyone that September is National Preparedness Month.

“…we all must take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, and also where we visit. Due to the success of last year’s theme, “Don’t Wait, Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today,” will be returning for this September with a continuing emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults, and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Thank you for taking time help make America more prepared for emergencies.”

City Offers CERT Training In April

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From City press release:

The City’s Office of Emergency Management is hosting an April Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Recruit Training session. The free 20-hour CERT session is scheduled for April 9, April 16, and April 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. All training sessions will be held at the Richmond Fire and Emergency Service Headquarters, 201 East Franklin Street. Participants must attend all three days of training to receive certification.

In the aftermath of a disaster when people feel compelled to help their community and neighbors, the skills that the CERT program teaches become invaluable. The City’s Office of Emergency Management maintains a robust CERT program, which has many active members that assist during non-emergency events. The 20 hour CERT training program educates participants about disaster preparedness and hazards that may impact their area. The program trains individuals in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Participants train alongside members of their community who will be part of their CERT Team, as well as with participants from other communities. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT sessions are taught by the Office of Emergency Management, Richmond Fire Department and the Richmond Police Department.

To register for the April CERT training session, call (804) 646-2504 or visit www.RichmondGov.com/fire/EM_Cert.aspx. The registration form may be downloaded at http://www.richmondgov.com/fire/documents/CERT2016RegistrationForm.pdf.

A fall 2016 CERT training session is scheduled for Aug. 13, Aug. 20, and Aug. 27.

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Proposal To Ban Indoor Furniture From Porches And Yards

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From Times Dispatch article:

A Richmond City Council panel on Tuesday advanced a proposal that would ban indoor furniture and mattresses from porches and yards.
The measure is less about dictating tasteful porch decor and more about giving the city recourse to collect discarded mattresses and couches, said Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District, who sponsored the measure.

…

At a public hearing on the two ordinances, Jean V. Capel, the city clerk, was the only person to speak.
She said she supported the furniture measure because indoor furniture left on porches spawns mold and can be a fire hazard.
The ordinance specifies that “use or storage of upholstered furniture, including mattresses, manufactured primarily for indoor use shall be prohibited on any front or side yard visible from any public place, sidewalk or road” or “any front or side porch.”
Colonial Heights, Henrico County and Emporia already have similar rules in place, according to a City Council member.
Residents cited for a violation would be fined $100, plus the cost of removing the furniture.

Oregon Hill has some experience with this.
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Storm Watch

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Neighbors are monitoring the current rain and Hurricane Joaquin. At the same time, they are remembering past storms-

Hurricane Irene played havoc with some roofs-
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I would really like to get some more photos of older storms, like Hurricane Camille..(click here for post).

Tropical Storm Gaston may have had some of the most dramatic damage-
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But the story of the neighbor who tried to drive his car over the fallen tree during Hurricane Isabel always seems to jog memories-
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Gazebo To Get Solar

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Oregon Hill residents are gratified that the City workers recently repainted the historic gazebo that sits as the end of S. Pine Street, near the overlook. With the UCI Road World Championship bicycle races approaching, residents are hoping the gazebo will look enticing for spectators.

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But now the City has additional news: As part of longterm restoration plans, the gazebo roof will be fitted with not only roof-flush photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and batteries to power the lighting installations around it, but also a retractable solar thermal array that will provide steam for picnic cooking as well as hot beverages in cooler temperatures.

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The design for this array comes from Wolfgang Scheffler, who is well know for designing similar arrays for community kitchens across India. City officials expect to have both the PV array and the thermal array up later this summer, as long as they can get past regulation in the City’s VEPGA.

Vigil and Protest At Dominion’s HQ On Wednesday

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Virginians are gathering on Tredegar Street this coming Wednesday morning, concerned about the ongoing tragedy of Fukushima and Dominion’s nuclear plans.

I expect a less noisy and more somber event than the recent pipeline protest, but perhaps as equally as important.

From FaceBook event page:

Please join us ~
Wed. March 11, 2015 from 7:30am-10:00am.
We will be participating in the global day of action ~ Commemorating the 4th year of the ongoing nuclear disaster in Fukushima and protesting against Dominion’s plan to build a 3rd nuclear reactor at North Anna on the fault line.

8:30am ~Vigil for the victims of Fukushima in plain view of Dominion Executives as they drive into work.
(will we be the next victims?)
10:00am ~ Moment of silence for the victims of Fukushima, followed by a brief memorial tribute and press conference.

Our State & Federal government is placing us at enormous risk!
Even with the past nuclear disasters (TMI, Chernobyl and the ongoing/uncontrollable disaster in Fukushima spreading radiation all over the world), nothing has stopped VA Dominion Power from moving forward with a plan for another reactor at North Anna.

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