WASHINGTON — Hours after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a monster Category 4 hurricane, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a State of Emergency for Virginia, which expects to feel Ian's impacts going into the weekend.
“Hurricane Ian is a large, powerful storm, and current predictions indicate that it may impact parts of Virginia later this week into early next week,” Youngkin said in announcing the state of emergency.
A state of emergency means Virginia can mobilize resources and equipment needed for response and recovery efforts.
Officials recommend having a plan in place just in case you need to evacuate your home, such as having family or friends you are able to stay with.
You should also make sure you have an emergency kit handy as well with batteries, a flashlight nonperishable food, and anything else you think you may need in the event the power goes out.
Hurricane conditions will continue through central Florida through at least Friday morning. Tropical storm warnings and Hurricane Watches have been extended into parts of Georgia and South Carolina ahead of Ian's third and final landfall expected Friday.
Hurricane Ian made its first landfall at 4:30 a.m. eastern daylight time in Cuba as a Category 3 Tuesday morning. The storm knocked out most of Cuba's power grid and destroyed homes and businesses.
How will this impact the DMV region?
The storm will move over land and weaken, eventually losing tropical features. We will likely see off and on rain from the remnants of Ian Saturday, Sunday, Monday and maybe even Tuesday. To learn more about how Hurricane Ian will impact the DMV, click here.
“We want to ensure that our communities have the resources needed to respond to and recover from any potential effects from the storm," Gov. Youngkin said. "While we recognize that the storm track is still uncertain, I nevertheless encourage all Virginians and visitors to make a plan, have supplies on hand, and follow official sources for the latest forecast information and guidance."
The storm will continue to move northeast through Florida before moving back into the Atlantic Thursday night.
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