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Governor declares state of emergency for the state Date published: 9/15/2003
With Isabel approaching, Warner declares state of emergency
Gov. Mark Warner declared a state of emergency today in preparation for Hurricane Isabel, which is expected to hit Virginia late this week. Isabel is currently a Category 4 storm that could bring storm surges, high winds, heavy rain and potential flooding and power outages. Virginia is right in the hurricane's expected path. "It looks like it could come up through the center of the state, so it could come up through Richmond, Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia," Warner said in a news conference at the state Capitol in Richmond. Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, added that areas east of Interstate 95 may see the worst impact from Isabel, if the hurricane keeps its current course. The emergency declaration "simply allows state government to ramp up its own preparations," Warner said. Already, the state's Emergency Operations Center has been fully staffed, and state police, the National Guard and the Virginia Department of Transportation have staff ready to respond to problems Isabel may create. "There is no reason for anyone to panic," Warner said. "We have plenty of time to prepare and we are preparing." So far Warner has not ordered evacuations of any coastal areas, but he could begin making such decisions by tonight. Even though inland areas are safe from storm surges, they are vulnerable to high winds and heavy rains that can cause flooding and topple trees. Already, Cline said, the ground is fairly saturated, and that makes it more likely that trees will fall-- possibly taking power lines down with them--during a storm. Cline said Isabel has the potential to bring the strongest winds Virginia has seen since Hurricane Gloria hit in 1985.
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