Emergency Services update: more storm potential, road and RR work, county COVID numbers continue above state averages

Late Wednesday morning, September 8, Warren County Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Farrall released an update to his weekly Situation Reports (SITREP). That update indicates Warren County numbers continuing to trend comparatively high to statewide numbers, even as the county’s COVID-19 fully vaccinated rate finally passed the 38% mark to 40.2%. That is still 17.2% below the statewide average of 57.4% of fully vaccinated Virginians. A check of the Virginia Health Department website Tuesday afternoon indicated Warren County at 3,863 reported COVID-19 cases, 139 having been hospitalized with the disease, and fatalities numbered at 65.

See other comparative county pandemic numbers, as well as the area’s severe weather forecast, and road and railroad crossing work update below:

Below is a brief Emergency Management Update:

1. Hazardous Weather (as of 05:03 AM EDT Wed. Sept. 8, 2021).

(a) DAY ONE (Today and Tonight).  Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging winds are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening, primarily near and east of Interstate 81. Locally heavy rain may also lead to isolated instances of flooding during this period, mainly near north-central Maryland.

(b) DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (Thursday through Tuesday).  No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

2. COVID-19 Data (Summary).

(a)  As of today (data from 8/29-9/4), the County’s rate of new cases per 100,000 persons is 493.0, and is considered “High” (by comparison, the State rate is 276.0, and is also considered “High”).  Our percentage of PCR tests that are positive is reported at 13.3% (by comparison, the State rate is 9.5%).  Note this is an increase from what was reported last week.

(b)  The County’s current hospitalization count is 3.6% and the death count is 1.7% of the case count.

(c)  The County’s (COVID-19) fully vaccinated rate is 40.2%; the State is 57.4%.

(d)  Recommend all County/Town citizens, employees, and employers reinforce basic public health preventative measures, as appropriate.

(e)  https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia/community-transmission/

COVID-19 Level of Community Transmission – Coronavirus To determine the level of community transmission, CDC and VDH recommend the use of two measures: total number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 persons in the past 7 days and the percentage of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) including RT-PCR COVID-19 tests that are positive during the last 7 days. www.vdh.virginia.gov

3. Rockland Road RR Crossing work is in progress.

(a)  According to Norfolk Southern, the RR crossing site on Rockland Road (vicinity of Fishnet Blvd.) is in progress.  The work is anticipated to be complete this week.  Please plan your emergency responses and travel accordingly.

(b)  The work/improvements at the US 340 / Buck Mountain Road crossing is complete; the US 340 Bentonville Road crossing work is to be scheduled.

4. Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

(a) The next scheduled LEPC meeting is to be determined; anticipate the meeting in November 2021.