News Flash

June 4, 2019 - June is the start of hurricane season, and residents are encouraged to start preparing now for a possible disaster. On Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam and his cabinet took part in a day-long exercise that focused on disaster preparedness.

"Hurricanes can devastate the entire state with storm surges, inland, river and flash flooding, damaging winds, landslides, dam failures and tornadoes," said Brian Moran, state secretary of public safety and homeland security.

Virginians are encouraged to learn their hurricane evacuation zone, review evacuation routes, and the state's hurricane evacuation guide at www.knowyourzoneVA.org. The state also has a hurricane preparedness guide that can be downloaded at VAemergency.gov/hurricanes. Coastal residents can call 2-1-1 to learn their evacuation zone if they don't have access to a computer or internet services. Hampton residents can call 3-1-1 or 727-8311 from their cell phone. 

Hampton's Emergency Management Office has set up a special hurricane preparedness display in the lobby of City Hall, and more information can be found on the emergency management website.

If a storm is threatening, residents are encouraged to follow local news media, www.hampton.gov, the National Weather Service field office in Wakefield, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter.