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Flooding in St. Joe, Fla. on Wednesday caused by Hurricane Michael. As it turned north, it became a tropical storm and was expected to affect parts of Virginia on Thursday. (Douglas R. Clifford / AP)
RICHMOND – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) declared Tropical Storm Michael.
"Norton said in a written announcement," I want to urge all of them to prepare for the serious possibility of flash floods, tropical storm force winds, tornadoes, and power outages.
Social media was already showing images of heavy rain and flooding in the Roanoke area as the remnants of the powerful storm tracked northward.
In Richmond, state government offices closed at 2 pm, city offices closed at 3 and schools were in the early stages of the storm. Dominion Energy, Virginia 's biggest electric utility, feels out warnings urging residents to prepare for possible outages and describing efforts to position workers to make repairs.
Northam's emergency report allows the state to mobilize resources in preparation for any damage from the storm.
The move comes just a month after Northam took the unprecedented step of issuing Hampton Roads as Hurricane Florence approached.
[Pricetag of coastal Virginia’s near miss from Hurricane Florence could be $75 million]
Though Virginia dodged serious damage from that storm, which instead delivered its major blow to North Carolina, the state was on the hook for some $ 75 million in emergency preparedness expenses. Officials said the federal government should reimburse up to 75 percent of those funds.
Thursday's emergency statement did not involve any evacuation orders. Virginia residents were urged to visit www.VAemergency.gov for preparedness tips, and www.511Virginia.org for updates on road conditions.
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