Virginia prepares for Hurricane Helene as Gov. Youngkin issues state of emergency

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) is preparing for the impending arrival of Hurricane Helene, which has prompted Gov. Glenn Youngkin to declare a state of emergency .

The declaration was issued by the governor’s office on Wednesday, Sept. 25, based on National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center forecasts which predict heavy rainfall in the Commonwealth on Thursday.

According to officials, heavy rain, tornadoes and strong winds are expected across Virginia, particularly the southwest and central regions. VDEM Chief Agency spokesperson Jason Elmore said officials have already positioned first responders and search and rescue teams in areas where Helene is set to cause damage.

“If there is flooding, those swift water rescue teams can get out there, help out those local counties and cities in finding people and helping get people out of the flooded waters,” said Elmore. “We can provide people that have been trained to manage incidents, which is a huge help to our local governments. We can also provide them with grant funding in the recovery process.”

Elmore said the state of emergency allows VDEM to deploy the Virginia National Guard in areas that could be impacted the most. He’s also reminding viewers to stay equipped with resources of their own.

“Make sure you have a plan for your family if you have to evacuate or that you have flooding at your home,” said Elmore. “Find ways to keep informed, whether that’s social media for the National Weather Service or the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Check out your local governments to find out their emergency alert process and see if you can get notifications through text message or through email.”

Elmore also said VDEM will be opening its Emergency Operations Center with various state agencies and nonprofit organizations making sure residents are safe at 7 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.

StormTracker8 meteorologists report that Hurricane Helene will make landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on Thursday. It is expected to most significantly impact Florida and Georgia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRIC ABC 8News.