| Winter Storm Preparations
Our area is under a winter storm warning from the National Weather Service from 1:00 PM today until 7:00 PM on Thursday. The temperature will generally remain in the mid-to-low 30s, heading into the mid-20s at night. Please use caution when venturing out in the next few days. Below are some tips for staying safe during this storm: General
* The snowfall predictions continue to vary, with anywhere from 1 to 4 inches being predicted for the region, but the general consensus is that the snow will be heavy and wet. This is the kind of snowfall that tends to cause trees to fall and can do significant damage to power lines.
* Be sure you have enough non-perishable food and clean drinking water in the event that the power outage lasts up to 48 to 72 hours.
* Additionally, be sure you have enough batteries for flashlights and other battery-operated devices, as well as a first-aid kit available for emergencies.
* Be sure to fill up your gas tanks, as the winter conditions may make getting around very difficult for at least the next day or two.
* Be sure to stay at least 30 feet back from downed wires and report them to your electric providers.
* If you do use a generator, be sure to follow the safe operating procedures, and never operate a generator inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage. If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.
Transportation
* VDOT has already begun to treat the major roads throughout the Commonwealth in preparation for the storm to try to make sure that the interstates and primary roads can be cleared quickly during and after the storm. * We urge motorists to please try to avoid driving during the storm, as most accidents happen within the first 2 hours after a snow storm starts. To keep updated on road conditions, you can call 511, go to www.511virginia.org, or download the 511 mobile app. * To keep up with the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) progress in plowing, please see the following information packet, which provides information on VDOT's plan for snow removal, as well as contact numbers to check on their progress. You can also visit the following site to check on the general status of VDOT's plowing efforts.
Electric
* For Dominion, please visit the following site for basic emergency contact information. You can report an outage to Dominion by calling 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357), and you can go to the following website to see outage information. Dominion also has pages for general preparedness tips for winter weather, which you can locate here and here. You can also go to Dominion's Twitter feed or Facebook page for information and updates during the storm. * For the Prince George Electric Cooperative, you can report an outage by calling 804-834-2424, or by visiting the following site. They also have a winter weather preparedness website, which you can visit by going here. * For the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, you can report an outage by calling 1-800-552-3904, or by visiting the following site. They also have a winter weather preparedness tips for winter weather, which you can visit by going here.
Keep up with updates for James City County by checking with James City County Alert Systems. In addition, please see the following county and city specific sites for recommendations on how to prepare for the upcoming storm, as well as contact information for local services:
Be sure to stay safe and stay warm! | 
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