EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

HURRICANE SANDY UPDATES:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 29 - 6:00 PM

The City of Portsmouth offices will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 30th.
Trash will be collected on a normal schedule. Monday trash and bulk routes are rescheduled for collection Wednesday, October 31st.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 29 - 1:30 PM

The City of Portsmouth will close the emergency shelter at Lakeview Elementary School at 3 p.m. today. The emergency shelter, located at 1300 Horne Avenue, was opened at 8 a.m. Sunday morning.

The Midtown Tunnel is currently closed. Portsmouth roads that were closed due to flooding are improving as of 1:30 p.m.

For more information, call the EOC at 393-5000.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 29 - 11:30 AM

• As of 11:30 a.m. the following streets are flooded:
  Eastbound I-264 Exit 7A closed
  Frederick Blvd. between Portsmouth Blvd. and George Washington Hwy.
  Madison St. and Seventh St.
  Dinwiddie St. and North St.
  Caroline Ave. and Wyoming Ave.
  4100 George Washington Hwy.
  Elm Ave. and Webster St.
  5200 block of Johnson Ave.
  

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 8:00 PM

• As of 6:30 p.m., the following streets are flooded:
  Crawford at Washington Street;
  800 and 900 blocks of Duke Street;
  800 block of Scott Street;
  Stratford Street at Avondale Road;
  Stratford Street at Taft Drive;
  George Washington Highway at Chestnut Street;
  George Washington Highway at Frederick Boulevard;
  Des Moines Avenue at Jefferson Street.

Residents should be aware of potential flooding impacts for low-lying and flood-prone areas tonight and tomorrow morning during high-tide cycles.Tonight's high-tide cycle will peak around 10 p.m. and tomorrow's high-tide cycle will peak around 10 a.m.

The weather conditions are expected to deteriorate tonight and power outages are expected for our area due to ground saturation and high winds. Tomorrow morning's total water could produce flooding similar to that of Hurricane Irene last year.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 2:00 PM

• As of 1:30 p.m., the following streets are flooded:
  Crawford at Washington Street; 800 and 900 blocks of Duke Street;
  800 block of Scott Street;
  Stratford Street at Avondale Road;
  Stratford Street at Taft Drive;
  George Washington Highway at Chestnut Street;
  George Washington Highway at Frederick Boulevard

Please call the EOC for more information or assistance - 393-5000.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 12:46 PM

• City of Portsmouth Municipal Offices will be closed Monday
• All Portsmouth Public Schools will be closed Monday
• All Portsmouth Museums will be closed Monday
• There will be no trash and bulk collection on Monday. Trash and bulk routes are rescheduled for collection on Wednesday, October 31st.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 - 10 a.m.

• The City of Portsmouth's Emergency Operations Center is open.
  
• The telephone number for citizens is 393-5000.
  
• The emergency shelter is open at Lakeview Elementary School, 1300 Horne Avenue.
  
• There are no road closings to report at this time. Please call the EOC to report any extreme flooding.
  
• Please call Dominion to report any power outages/issues: 1-866-366-4357.
  
• The Midtown Tunnel is currently open. Vehicles are being escorted through the tunnel by way of a pilot vehicle.
  
• Portsmouth Museums and The Visitor Center are closed today.
  
• Portsmouth Courts have announced that they will be closed on Monday.
  

There are no additional closings to report at this time, 10 a.m.
Please continue to maintain situational awareness and call the EOC if you have questions or concerns.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 - 4:30 PM

Partial activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will begin at 8:00 am Sunday, October 28. An emergency shelter will open at Lakeview Elementary School, 1300 Horne Avenue.

The city will issue Portsmouth-specific updates via the following media:

• Portsmouth, Virginia Facebook page
• Portsmouth, Virginia Twitter feed
• Cox Cable channel 48
• Automated info line (757-398-0682 at prompt select 2)

What can you do to prepare for a storm?

1. Have a plan. What you need to do before, during and after a storm to keep
   yourself and family safe.
   
   
2. Have a kit. Whether you stay at home, go to a shelter, or evacuate the area,
   make sure you have the right supplies. Always have enough medicine and
   electronic copies of important documents on hand. Click here for more information on building your emergency kit.
   
   
3. If you have a generator, test it, and review these safety tips.
   
   
4. As Sandy approaches our area, clean up leaves that can clog the storm drains,
   and remove or secure objects that may be come projectiles during high winds
   
   
5. During an emergency, Portsmouth may open shelters. General information on Portsmouth shelters is here. You will be informed via the Portsmouth Updates described above if Portsmouth is opening shelters.

General information

1. Maps on storm surge and tidal flooding experienced in previous storms
2. Common Flooding Areas (PDF)
3. Flooding terms, what do they mean?
4. Automated info line (757-398-0682 at prompt select 2)
5. YouTube PSAs on Hurricane Preparedness Week - Spanish Version
6. Be a Force of Nature with NOAA's Weather-Ready Nation
7. NHC Outreach Resources
8. Ready.gov Hurricanes
9. Ready.gov Kids
   

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