News Flash

March 31, 2020 -While all of Hampton’s public buildings remain closed until further notice,  city residents can still make tax payments and conduct other business with Hampton online or by telephone. Police officers, firefighters and other city employees are practicing social distancing when possible, but all emergency services are still available. In some cases documents and paperwork may be submitted to the city in two dropboxes outside City Hall, 22 Lincoln St., and at the Ruppert Sargent building, 1 Franklin St. Submitted documents will be quarantined for a period of time to ensure they are safe to handle.

• Residents who need help through the city’s Human Services (Social Services) office  should call 757-727-1800, or visit www.hampton.gov/humanservices.
• Anyone can vote absentee for the May 5 local elections. See https://hampton.gov/263/Voter-Registrar for more information..
•  Hampton’s Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer’s Office have begun accepting tax payments by phone, and the city is waiving the $1 fee for online transactions with the Treasurer’s Office. For more details on doing business with them, visit www.hampton.gov/revenue or www.hampton.gov/treasurer.
• Hampton’s Emergency Management Office said FEMA is extending the grace period to renew flood insurance policies from 30 to 120 days. To avoid a lapse in coverage, there is typically a 30-day grace period to renew National Flood Insurance Program policies. This extension will allow additional time for policyholders who may be struggling financially to pay insurance premiums and ensure their policies are not cancelled for nonpayment of premium due to circumstances beyond their control. More information.
• Hampton’s Community Development Department continues to accept online permit and inspection requests, and the city is developing plans to let residents use a dropbox outside of City Hall for the submission of other documents and applications. The city is no longer issuing yard sale permits.
• All Parks buildings and are closed, as well as playgrounds, volleyball courts and basketball courts. Hampton’s skate park on Woodland Road is also closed.
• City beaches are closed for swimming and sunbathing, but open for walking. Hampton’s outside parks continue to be open and available to those who want to go walking. Residents are reminded to practice social distancing by staying six feet away from each other. Staff will periodically monitor the city’s beaches (Buckroe, Grandview, Salt Ponds, Fort Monroe) to break up groups of more than 10.

• The Public Works Department is seeing an increase in non-flushable items in wastewater lines and pump stations. All personal protective equipment related toCOVID-19, including rubber gloves, masks and wipes should not be flushed down toilets. These items should be placed in trash bags, securely tied and placed in your refuse container for proper disposal.  Public Works continues to make regular trash and recycling pickup, stormwater inspections and other activities.

• Electronic books are still available through the library at www.hampton.gov/library

• The Hampton History Museum is closed, but its online archive is open. Explore the collections, including maps and surveys from the Chambers Collection, images from the Cheyne Studio Collection, and a wealth of photos and materials donated by individuals over the years. There are a variety of ways to search, and even an interactive map to browse collections relating to sites, structures, cemeteries, and waterways, or by neighborhood district or areas outside Hampton.
• At the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter  you can view adoptable pets online. Starting Monday, March 30, adoptions will be by appointment only. The shelter will remain open for owner reclaims and intake daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Hampton Roads Transit has reduce routes as demand has dropped. The goal is to operate reduced services but still support connectivity to medical facilities, major employers, and other locations for essential trips while ensuring there are no significant geographic gaps in the system. The plan is designed for people who must travel to reach their destinations, but HRT is encouraging all citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and practice social distancing. Paratransit services continue. Keep up with the new schedule.
• A public health emergency has been declared for all of Joint Base Langley-Eustis. This declaration allows greater access to health care resources, and broader authority to limit access onto the installation, and restrict the movement of residents.

If you have a question about a city service that’s not answered here please call the departments listed on www.hampton.gov or call the Citizen Contact Center at 757-727-8311. 

You can get more information from:

• The Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
• The Virginia Health Department: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus
• Hampton City Schools: http://www.hampton.k12.va.us/index.html
• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security: https://www.ready.gov/pandemic