Richmond unveils multi-year plan to strengthen emergency preparedness

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The city of Richmond unveils a multi-year plan to strengthen emergency preparedness on Tuesday, with Mayor Danny Avula saying the city is "building a stronger and more resilient emergency response system.” 

City officials announced the new Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) on Tuesday, Feb. 24 -- described as a multi-year plan to strengthen how the city prepares for, responds to and recovers from emergencies, a release stated.

Last year, the city of Richmond released the findings of a third-party “incident response assessment,” months after the widespread water crisis that hit the Richmond region.

In the audit, they found they were underprepared for most emergencies. Auditors found the city did not have emergency plans for several types of crisis events, staff were untrained and in some areas, violations of standards, which created significant confusion and extra work for city staff.

The audit found that a "common theme” across staff interviews was that “additional planning and training” were needed.

MORE: Richmond was largely unprepared for water crisis, per new report

Officials on Tuesday now said they invited stakeholders to participate in a series of activities, including surveys and workshops, which they believe will help strengthen the city's response during an incident.

The workshops led to the creation of a concrete plan outlining specific steps the city will take to strengthen preparedness.

“This plan aligns city departments, partners, and resources in a way that has never been done before,” Avula said in a release. “By working together strategically, Richmond is building a stronger and more resilient emergency response system.”

The IPP activities the city has proposed also include a multi-year schedule of preparedness activities that the city hopes to accomplish from 2026 through 2028.

“The integrated Preparedness Plan is about being ready, not just on paper, but in practice,” said Stephen Willoughby, Director of the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response. “By evaluating our plans and addressing gaps now, we strengthen coordination and ensure the city is prepared to protect our community when it matters most."

DECPR has established a new Emergency Management Training, Exercise and Preparedness Manager position. This individual will lead the city's emergency preparedness training and exercise strategy.