Chesterfield residents urged to shelter in place for several days, officials provide safety tips

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — As an incoming winter storm makes its way through Central Virginia this weekend, Chesterfield officials are urging residents to stay indoors and be prepared to do so for a few days.

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 24, most areas in Central Virginia will be under a winter storm warning, meaning heavy snow, ice and sleet, making it "nearly impossible" to travel, according to the National Weather Service. Ice accumulations could also bring widespread power outages and tree damage to impacted regions, according to the agency.

Chesterfield County officials on Jan. 23 urged residents to shelter in place for several days in anticipation of the storm's impact on the area, including during emergency events such as severe weather, power outages or other community-wide events.

Winter storm warning issued for several Central Virginia areas

When sheltering becomes necessary, residents can follow these tips from Chesterfield officials to stay safe and comfortable:

Medication and medical needs

• Keep at least a week or two of supplies for all prescription medications.
• Refill medications early, if possible.
• Store a list of medications, dosages, and prescribing doctors.
• Include essential medical supplies such as inhalers, insulin, syringes, medical equipment batteries or backup power.
• Keep a small first-aid kit readily available.

Food and water

• Have shelf-stable, nonperishable foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking, such as baby formula, canned meats, vegetables, and fruit, peanut butter, granola bars, crackers and dried foods.
• Plan for at least three to seven days' worth of food per person.
• Store one gallon of water per person per day for drinking.
• Don’t forget items for infants, older adults and pets.

LIST: Central Virginia localities under local states of emergency ahead of winter storm

Power, lighting and batteries

• Keep extra batteries for flashlights, radios and medical devices.
• Use flashlights instead of candles to reduce fire risk.
• Fully charge cell phones and battery packs ahead of time.
• Only operate generators outside and away from windows.
• Report outages and downed power lines to utility companies, not 911.

Important supplies

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Cell phone chargers and backup battery packs
• Personal hygiene items
• Diapers
• Extra blankets and warm clothing
• Paper towels, toilet paper and cleaning supplies
• Cash, as ATMs and card systems may be unavailable
• Copies of important documents in a waterproof container

Storm preparedness

• If your home is prone to power outages, identify a friend, family member or neighbor you could stay with for the duration of the storm. Avoid travel as conditions worsen.
• Place plastic tape around windows and place towels at the bottom of drafty doors to keep cold air out.
• Insulate exposed pipes to prevent freezing.
• Let faucets drip slightly to keep water moving.
• Gather fuel for heat sources and vehicles.
• Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and replace batteries as needed.

VDOT preparing roads as snow, ice storm heads for Central Virginia

Stay informed

• Monitor local news, emergency alerts and official county or city communications.
• Sign up for local emergency notifications via Chesterfield Alert.
• Follow guidance from local officials before traveling.
• For public safety, call the non-emergency line at 804-748-1251.
• For downed trees, call VDOT at 800-367-7623.
• For electric services, call Dominion at 866-366-4357 or Southside Electric at 866-878-5514.
• For water/wastewater emergencies, call Utilities at 804-748-1310.

Check on others and pets

• Reach out to neighbors, older adults and individuals with disabilities.
• Make a plan to check in by phone or text if possible.

Our StormTracker8 team continues to monitor this storm. On Saturday and Sunday, you can tune into our ongoing winter weather coverage using our free WRIC+ app. You can also check out our StormTracker8 24/7 weather livestream here.

For the most up-to-date weather alerts, click here or visit our StormTracker8 weather page.