July 6th Warren County Emergency Management Situation Report

The below information comprises this week’s Warren County Emergency Management SITREP:

COMMUNITY INFORMATION: 

1. Hazardous Weather Outlook (as of 7/6 at 7:55 AM):
2. Today and Tonight:
3. A Heat Advisory is in effect for the eastern West Virginia Panhandle and north-central Maryland from 11 AM until 8 PM.  Heat indices around 100 to 105 degrees are expected.
4. Several severe storms are possible late this afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat.
5. Next six days:
6. Heat indices in the 100 to 105 degree range are possible for Wednesday, especially in the eastern West Virginia Panhandle and for locations east of the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Mountains. As a result, Heat Advisories may be required.
7. Consult the latest guidance and information from the National Hurricane Center concerning the possible effects of Tropical Storm Elsa.

iii.  There is a slight severe storm threat for Sunday.  Scattered severe storms are possible.

1. Tropical Storm Elsa.
2. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Georgia coast and portions of the South Carolina coast, where tropical storm conditions are possible late Wednesday and early Thursday.
3. Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to pass over/by the Virginia coastline this coming Thursday evening.  Current NWS predictions do not show Elsa significantly impacting the Shenandoah Valley region; expect normal amounts of rain associated with the remnants of Elsa as the storm passes by our area.

2. Happy Creek Road Closure (Route 624; as of 7/6):
3. Scheduled VDOT construction hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.
4. The project impacts Happy Creek Road from the Town of Front Royal limit east to Dismal Hollow Road; it includes work on the railroad crossing site just prior to Dismal Hollow Road.  Norfolk Southern is expected to begin crossing work after July 5th.   Dismal Hollow Road will remain open.  Please plan your area travels accordingly.
5. The scheduled project completion date is on or about August 6, 2021.

3. Valley Health – VDH Lord Fairfax Health District Vaccine Information (as of 7/6/2021)

1. STATEWIDE:  Get your shot and help others make a plan to get vaccinated. Getting a shot has never been easier—vaccines are readily available at many supermarket pharmacies, hospitals, doctor’s offices, local health department clinics, and state-run community vaccination centers. To find a vaccine provider near you:
2. Visit vaccinate.virginia.gov, or
3. Call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682).  Call center representatives are available from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

4. Executive Order 79 (2021)(Effective May 28, 2021):
5. EO-79 is in furtherance of Amended Executive Order 51 (2020).  Further, this Order terminates Seventh Amended Number Seventy-Two (2021) and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine, shall be effective midnight on May 28, 2021, and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or rescinded by further executive order.
6. EO-79 (2021):  governor.virginia.gov
7. EO-51 (2020):  governor.virginia.gov
8. CDC Update as of May 28, 2021.  cdc.gov/coronavirus
9. Updated Choosing Safer Activities infographic with new considerations for the example activity for outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

1. Current Executive Orders and Local Directives (not all inclusive):
2. Local – Declaration of Local Emergency by the Local Director of Emergency Management due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), effective March 17, 2020 until further notice
3. Local – Designation of Critical and Essential Employees during an Emergency Memorandum, effective May 7, 2020 until further notice

2. Key Leader Public Messaging (CDC) – Take Prevention Measures:
3. Vaccinated People:
4. Prevention measures not needed
5. Unvaccinated People:
6. Wear a mask
7. Stay 6 feet apart

iii.  Wash your hands

LONG-TERM (scheduled completion over 3-months)

3. FEMA Emergency Protective Measures (Category B) Reimbursement (Deputy County Administrator)
4. Warren County.  Main lead is Taryn Logan, Planning Director
5. All departments/staff send monthly expense update to Taryn NLT the last working day of each month
6. Approximate County expenditure to date is approximately $510,000 (5/18/2021)
7. Town of Front Royal.  Main lead is B.J. Wilson, Finance Director
8. Approximate Town expenditure to date is $70,000 (10/14/2020)

4. Point of Distribution (POD)(Parks and Recreation)
5. POD established at the 15^th St. Gym/Cafeteria in coordination with VH/VDH for the mass distribution of critical medical supplies as required.  Another term being circulated is “CVC” or Community Vaccination Center.

5. Administration Information Requirements (Emergency Coordinator):
6. Attention Warren County and Town of Front Royal staffs:  There is a short-list of incidents that must be reported to the (virtual) EOC in order to notify the “Administration” (County and/or Town) in a timely manner.  This short-list is collectively known as Administration Information Requirements.

1. Administrative Information Requirements List:

1. Personnel:  Death or hospital admission of any County Board of Supervisor, County Administrator, Town Council member, Town Manager, County or Town employee, or their immediate family members (currently residing in same residence)
2. Employees:  Anytime an employee becomes a Person Under Investigation (PUI) and tests negative or positive for COVID-19 (or their immediate household members).

iii.  Medical:  Any infectious disease outbreak** (long term care facility, congregate setting, healthcare setting, RSW Jail, or educational setting) of COVID-19 in Warren County [**Note VDH states that at least two (2) lab confirmed cases are required to classify an outbreak.]

1. Critical Infrastructure:  Any incident involving County or Town identified critical infrastructure that results in the degradation or loss of primary function for more than two hours.  For example, facilities that include: Continuity of Government: Courthouse, Government Center, Town Hall; Emergency Services: fire stations, police department, public safety building, RSW jail, social services complex; Transportation: major local roads (I-66, U.S. 55/340/522, Route 11/79), all railroads; Utilities: Town electric, Town water/wastewater, Transfer Station
2. Weather:  Any adverse weather warning issued for Warren County

LOCAL AND REGIONAL “PHASE THREE” TIMELINE:

6. Local and Regional “Phase Three” Timeline/Updates –

1. July 28:  Warren County Fire Rescue.  Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) “Train the Trainer” course.
2. August 3-6: County/FRPD.  Add designated frequencies to FRPD radios, as appropriate, to enable “interoperability” between County and Town first responders.
3. August 6: VDOT.  Happy Creek Road (Route 624) scheduled to reopen to all traffic.
4. August 9-20: WCSO/WCFR.  Date window to transition communications hardware over to new towers.
5. August 17:  Warren County Public Schools.  First day of school for AY 2021-2022.
6. August 19 (T):  LEPC.  The next scheduled meeting is at 3:00 pm at the Public Safety Building.
7. August 24:  Christendom College.  First day of classes for AY 2021-2022.
8. September 30:  Deputy County Administrator.  Final scheduled day for FEMA-B authorized expenditures.
9. November (TBD):  County.  Emergency Operations Plan due for 4-year BOS approval.
10. November (TBD):  DSS.  Reopening of the Thermal Shelter for the “season”.
11. December 31:  U.S. Treasury/Commonwealth.  Allowable expenditures of CARES Act funding, to include CRF, be incurred through December 31, 2021
12. TBD:  County.  End of Federal, State, and Local COVID-19 Emergency Declaration(s).
13. TBD:  First Responders.  Walk-thru/familiarization of the new Christendom College Chapel.