Preparedness ♦ Winter Safety ♦ Power Outage ♦ Boil Water Advisory
Flood Water Safety ♦ Private Well Safety ♦ Pharmacy Waiver
On February 10, Governor Youngkin declared a state of emergency in advance of the impending winter weather that impacted the state on February 11-12. Another winter storm brought significant snow to much of Virginia February 19-20. The Virginia Department of Health offers these winter safety tips.
On February 15-16, southwest Virginia experienced flooding and flash flooding. Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers in the Commonwealth. The Office of Environmental Health Services is monitoring flooding impacts to environmental health, to include shellfish harvesting waters. Due to flooding, VDH closed portions of the James River to shellfish harvesting.
Buchanan and Wise counties have issued boil water advisories. For boil water instructions and safety tips, click here. Private well owners should follow these safety tips.
Boil Water Advisories
No current advisories.
For more information about public water or public sewer, contact the owner of the utility that provides that service to you (e.g., the utility that sends you a monthly water/sewer bill).
If under a boil water advisory, residents can safely use the water supply for bathing, toilet flushing, laundry, and other uses not associated with consumption or ingestion.
Do not use the water for activities associated with consumption, including drinking, beverage and food preparation (including baby formula and juice), dishwashing, cleaning food contact surfaces, making ice or coffee, and brushing teeth. Parents are encouraged to closely monitor children who take a bath to avoid ingestion at this time.
Drinking and cooking
Use commercially bottled water or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food.
Breastfeeding is the best option for feeding an infant. If you feed your child formula, provide ready-to-use formula if possible.
Handwashing
In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash your hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the advice from your local officials.
Bathing and showering
There is no need to boil water for bathing or showering. Adults, teens, and older children, can shower or bathe, though they should avoid getting water in the mouth or swallowing the water. Use caution when bathing infants and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
However, care should be taken to prevent water from getting into deep open or post-surgical wounds. Consult your physician or health care provider for wound care instructions.
Brushing teeth
Brush your teeth using boiled water or commercially bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
Washing dishes
If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
Sanitize all baby bottles.
Dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C). Check the manual or contact the manufacturer to find out what temperature your dishwater reaches.
To wash dishes by hand:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
- In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
- Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
- Let the dishes air dry completely before using them again.
Laundry
It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
Clean washable toys and surfaces with:
- Commercially bottled water,
- Boiled water, or
- Water that has been disinfected with bleach
Caring for pets
Give pets commercially bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people.
Caring for your garden and houseplants
You can use tap water for houseplants and gardens, including watering plants you eat.
After an emergency, your tap water may not be available or safe to use. Use bottled, boiled, or treated water to avoid getting sick. Boiling is the best way to kill germs in water.
If your residence is under a boil water advisory, do not use that water to drink, wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash or prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula.
Instead, use bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.
Steps for boiling water
If the water is cloudy, first filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. Another option is to let it settle. Then, draw off the clear water and follow the steps below.
- Bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes).
- Let the boiled water cool.
- Store the boiled water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers.
Watch a video of these instructions here.
In an emergency situation where regular water service has been interrupted – like a hurricane, flood, or water pipe breakage – local authorities may recommend using only bottled water, boiled water, or disinfected water until regular water service is restored. These instructions show you how to boil and disinfect water to kill most disease-causing microorganisms that may be present in the water. However, boiling or disinfection will not destroy other contaminants, such as heavy metals, salts, and most other chemicals.
These tips provide information for feeding your young child during a boil water advisory.
Infant Feeding FAQs (en español)
Breastfeeding During Disasters
How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency (en español)
Fact Sheet: How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency (en español)
Use Safe Water During an Emergency (en español)
How to prepare and store powdered infant formula during and emergency (en español)
How to Clean Infant Feeding Items During Emergencies (en español)
Extreme cold can cause water pipes in your home to freeze and sometimes rupture or break. When you are expecting very cold or freezing temperatures:
- Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.
- Keep the temperature inside your home warm.
- Allow heated air to reach pipes. For example, open cabinet doors beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
- If your pipes do freeze, do not thaw them with a torch. Thaw the pipes slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer.
- If you cannot thaw your pipes, or the pipes have broken open, use bottled water or get water from a neighbor's home.
- As an emergency measure, if no other water is available, snow can be melted for water. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most germs but won't get rid of chemicals sometimes found in snow.
- Learn more on how to use safe water after a natural disaster or emergency.
Private Well Safety
Your well water might not be safe to drink from after a natural disaster. Floods can contaminate your water supply. Learn how you can protect your private well here.
Private Well Information Sheet
Safeguarding Your Well & Septic System Against Flooding Hazards
Shock Chlorination (en español)
For more information on private wells or septic systems, contact your local health department.
If you have your well tested and need assistance in understanding the test results, you can visit Well Informed Virginia or call your local health department and environmental health staff will be glad to assist.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is offering free test kits for individuals who have residential private drinking water wells impacted by the recent flooding in Southwest Virginia. Any well submerged during the recent flooding event is likely to be contaminated, even if there is no apparent damage.
The free private well test kits are available to residents in the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise.
- To qualify for testing, the well must first be disinfected and flushed (en español). VDH recommends having a well driller assist with this process. For those choosing to disinfect the well themselves, all safety precautions and instructions should be followed using these instructions.
Once well users disinfect and flush their well, a free test kit can be requested by calling one of the following health departments:
- Buchanan County Health Department – 276-935-4591
- Dickenson County Health Department – 276-926-4979
- Lee County Health Department – 276-346-2011
- Russell County Health Department – 276-889-7621
- Scott County Health Department – 276-386-1312
- Tazewell County Health Department – 276-988-5585
- Wise County Health Department – 276-328-8000
Well users may pick up test kits Monday through Friday at a local health department.
To qualify for testing, the well must first be disinfected and flushed (en español).
Virginia Department of Health
Private Well Bacteriological Sample Collection Instructions
Please read instructions completely before collecting your sample. Do not remove caps from sample bottle until you are ready to take the sample.
Instructions:
- Choose the faucet where you will collect the sample. VDH recommends using the cold water tap in the kitchen.
- Be sure the area around the faucet is clean, and all items are removed to minimize splashing.
- Do not remove the aerator on the faucet.
- Turn on the water and let is run for at least one (1) minute to flush out the pipes.
- While the water is running, wash your hands thoroughly to ensure there is no cross-contamination of the bacteria sample.
- Remove the cap from the sample bottle and fill the bottle just above the 100ml mark on the bottle when looking at the water line and the mark on the bottle at eye level.
- Replace cap when full.
- Return you sample kit to the nearest local health department location within the Cumberland Plateau or LENOWISCO health districts
- Try to collect the sample in the afternoon, as close to when you will be dropping off samples as possible.
- Sample kits must be returned Monday through Thursday by 4:00 p.m. on the same day the sample is taken.
- Treat bottles with care! Samples will be rejected if it arrives in a bottle not provided in the kit, or if the bottle is broken or cracked.
- Fill out the location information on the submittal form.
Once the sample is dropped off at the local health department, the sample will then be shipped to the laboratory for analysis. Samples are to be shipped at room temperature by the local health department. It may take 2 to 3 days to receive test results. The local health department will contact you with the results.
Samples are time sensitive. They must be collected Monday through Thursday and returned the same day to the nearest local health department within the Cumberland Plateau or LENOWISCO health districts by 4 p.m.
Private Drinking Water Well Safety and Testing FAQs
If my residential well was in the flooded area, is it safe to use?
If your well was inundated by flood waters, it should not be used for consumption until it has been disinfected, flushed, and tested.
Until your residential private well has been disinfected, flushed and tested, do not use the water for activities associated with consumption, including drinking, beverage and food preparation (including baby formula and juice), dishwashing, cleaning food contact surfaces, making ice or coffee, and brushing teeth. Parents are encouraged to closely monitor children who take a bath to avoid ingestion.
You can safely use the well water for bathing, toilet flushing, laundry, and other uses not associated with consumption or ingestion.
How do I know if I need to flush my residential well?
Visually inspect the well for obvious signs of damage, maintain a safe distance to avoid electrical shock from the well if the wellhead is flooded, buried, or clearly broken by fallen trees or branches. Observe the water at the tap for discoloration, odor, or sediment.
If your water is cloudy or muddy, the well and waterlines should be flushed until the water has cleared.
How can VDH help with my flooded well?
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is providing free testing of residential private drinking water wells impacted by the recent southwest Virginia flooding.
Why is VDH offering free private residential well testing?
Private drinking water wells are vulnerable to flooding. Storm surges can destroy above ground well structures and damage well casings. This can allow contaminated water to enter wells. The water can also contaminate shallow aquifers and impact groundwater quality. The contamination may only have a short-term effect if localized and adequately flushed and treated but may also last after the flood waters have long receded.
Who is eligible for the free private residential well testing?
To be eligible for free testing, you must have a private residential well impacted by flooding and be located in the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise.
The well must also be disinfected and flushed. The local health department can assist users in how to assess their well and provide guidance on flushing and disinfection.
What will VDH ask, if I request well testing?
VDH is asking well users if their well was flooded or damaged, providing information on well disinfection and flushing, and asking if they have an interest in getting their well tested.
How do I request a test kit to test my private, residential well?
Once well users disinfect and flush their well, a free test kit can be requested by calling one of the following health departments:
- Buchanan County Health Department – 276-935-4591
- Dickenson County Health Department – 276-926-4979
- Lee County Health Department – 276-346-2011
- Russell County Health Department – 276-889-7621
- Scott County Health Department – 276-386-1312
- Tazewell County Health Department – 276-988-5585
- Wise County Health Department – 276-328-8000
How do I disinfect and flush my well?
VDH recommends having a well driller assist with this process. For those choosing to disinfect the well themselves, all safety precautions and instructions should be followed using these instructions (en español).
Who takes the sample at my residence?
Well users may take the sample or request that their local health department assist them.
How is the test conducted?
The test is simply filling the container provided in the test kit with water from the most frequently used point for drinking in the home (typically the kitchen faucet). Well users will be provided with instructions on how to collect the sample with the test kit.
Who is analyzing the sample?
VDH will be sending the samples to Virginia’s Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS).
What are they testing for?
The kits will include the tools necessary to collect samples for testing for total coliform and E.coli. Test results will only indicate if the well is contaminated for total coliform or E. coli.
What is total coliform?
Total coliforms are a group of bacteria that are commonly found in soil, vegetation, and the intestines of mammals, including humans. They are used as an indicator of water quality and the sanitary condition of a water supply. While total coliforms are usually not harmful, their presence indicates that the water may be contaminated by more harmful microorganisms.
What is E .coli?
E. coli is a type of coliform. Most E. coli are harmless and are part of a healthy intestinal tract. E. coli help us digest food, produce vitamins, and protect us from harmful germs. But some E. coli can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses.
Where do I return the sample for analysis?
Tests must be returned Monday through Thursday to the nearest local health department location within the Cumberland Plateau or LENOWISCO health districts. Samples should be delivered to one of the available locations by 4 p.m. on the same day the sample is taken.
How will I receive my test results?
Health department staff will call you with the test results. They will also either mail you a hard copy of the results or hand deliver a hard copy.
When will I receive results?
The test results should be ready in 2 to 3 days after the sample is submitted.
Winter Preparedness
Flood Water Safety
On February 15-16, southwest Virginia experienced flooding and flash flooding. Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers in the Commonwealth. The Office of Environmental Health Services is monitoring flooding impacts to environmental health, to include shellfish harvesting waters. Due to flooding, VDH closed portions of the James River to shellfish harvesting.
Buchanan, Dickinson, Lee, Russell and Wise counties have issued boil water advisories affecting 29,015 customers. For boil water instructions and safety tips, click here. Private well owners should follow these safety tips.
The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities will activate the Dock Street floodwall as a cautionary measure due to the recent heavy rainfall. Dock Street will be closed between 17th and 21st Streets while the floodwall is activated, with detours in place. The floodwall and impacted streets will re-open once the water recedes.
During flooding, the greatest threat comes from moving water. The deeper the moving water, the greater the threat. People should avoid driving in moving water, regardless of the size of their vehicle. You should never attempt to walk or drive through moving water, as there is no way of telling its depth and swift moving water can carry away people or vehicles trying to cross it.
Heavy rain causes flood waters to rise and pool on streets and throughout neighborhoods. In these situations, be aware of the following:
- Road surfaces become obscured, and drivers can unknowingly steer into a deep body of water, such as a canal or pond.
- Electricity from streetlights and power poles may be active through standing water causing a deadly shock to anyone coming in contact with it.
- Children playing in contaminated standing water can become sick or be bitten by snakes or floating insects.
- People coming into contact with floodwaters should thoroughly rinse any exposed body parts with soap and sanitized or disinfected water.
Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. You cannot assume that the water in the hurricane-affected area is safe to drink. Listen to local announcements on the safety of the water supply.
If your public water system lost pressure, a boil water notice will likely be issued for your area.
People in these areas should take precautions to avoid contaminated water, especially individuals with private wells.
Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with floodwaters. Discard any food without a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with floodwaters. Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the labels thoroughly, wash the cans, and then disinfect the cans with a solution consisting of 1/4 cup of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Re-label your cans, including the expiration date, with a marker. Food containers with screw-caps, snap lids and home canned foods should be discarded if they have come in contact with floodwaters because they cannot be disinfected.
Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers. There is no way to safely clean them if they have come in contact with contaminated floodwaters. Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils with soap and hot water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one-quarter cup of household bleach per gallon of water.
Basic hygiene is very important during natural disaster. Always wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected and cooled. You should wash your hands:
- Before preparing or eating food
- After using the bathroom or changing a diaper
- After handling uncooked food
- After playing with a pet
- After handling garbage
- After tending to someone who is sick or injured
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After participating in flood cleanup activities
- After handling articles contaminated with flood water or sewage.
Power Outage
Power outages are common after a big winter storm. If you lose power, make sure to be careful when using alternative heat sources and practice portable generator safety. Once you and your family are safe, check in with others in your neighborhood to make sure they are okay.
Cold Weather Safety
When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. It is very important to remember to take caution during extremely cold temperatures and severe winter weather to prevent injuries and illness, such as hypothermia and frostbite.
Hypothermia occurs most commonly at very cold environmental temperatures, but can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. Redness or pain in any skin area may be due to frostbite, an injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Seek medical care if you suspect frostbite or hypothermia.
- During the severe winter weather, try to stay indoors. Limit your time outdoors.
- If you must go out, make sure your family is safe by dressing warmly and limit exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite.
- Wear cold weather appropriate clothing like gloves, hats, scarves and snow boots.
- Be aware of the wind chill factor.
- Avoid getting wet and change out of wet clothes as soon as possible to prevent hypothermia.
- If you have pets, bring them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they have access to unfrozen water.
- Take extra precautions if you work in the cold.
Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold.
Stay safe while shoveling by following these tips:
- Check the weather, temperature, and wind chill before setting foot outside.
- Dress in layers of loose-fitting clothing.
- Use the right tool and the proper technique. Choose a shovel with a small, plastic blade as it will weigh less than a shovel with a metal blade.
- Use a proper shoveling technique to reduce strain on the body.
- Don’t overdo it. Take breaks to catch your breath and drink water.
- Try pushing the snow rather than lifting and throwing it.
- Know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature, is a dangerous condition that can occur when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Symptoms in adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, slurred speech, and drowsiness. Seek immediate medical attention if a person’s temperature is below 95° F.
Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don't overdo it.
Walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Many injuries related to cold weather happen from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches. Icy sidewalk can be especially hazardous for the elderly.
Keep your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand may also be used on walkways to reduce the risk of slipping.
Respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common during winter as you spend more time indoors. Protect yourself and your family with these tips.
- Stay up to date on your respiratory vaccines.
- Practice good hygiene
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Wash or sanitize hands often
- Clean frequently touched surfaces often
- Keep reading about respiratory viruses and hygiene
- Stay home if you are sick.
VDOT provides weather advisories on current road conditions and weather forecasts. Travelers can easily access weather information by dialing 511, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This information is also available on the website at www.virginiadot.org.
- Do not travel in low visibility conditions.
- Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible.
- Never pour water on your windshield to remove ice or snow—this can cause your windshield to shatter.
- If you must travel by car, use tire chains and take a mobile phone with you.
- If you must travel, let someone know your destination and when you expect to arrive. Ask them to notify authorities if you are late.
- Check and restock the winter emergency supplies in your car before you leave.
- Always carry extra warm clothing and blankets with you. Don't rely on a car to provide enough heat. The car could break down.
Don't forget about your pets this winter! Make sure they have a warm, dry place to rest with plenty of food and water.
If you have pets, bring them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they have access to unfrozen water.
If you must work in cold environments or temperatures, take these precautions:
- Wear appropriate clothing.
- Wear several layers of loose clothing for better insulation.
- Some clothing may restrict movement, which could be dangerous.
- Make sure to protect the ears, face, hands, and feet.
- Boots should be waterproof and insulated.
- Wear a hat. Hats reduce body heat escaping from your head.
- Move into warm locations during breaks.
- Carry extra socks, gloves, hat, jacket, clothes, and blankets.
- Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
- Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
If a winter storm heads your way, make sure you understand the warning and advisories. Winter storms, including blizzards, can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds.
Make sure you have an emergency plan, listen to weather forecasts regularly, limit your time outside, and have an emergency supply kit on hand.
- If power lines are down, call your local utility and emergency services. Have extra blankets and warm winter coats on hand to stay warm during power outages.
- If using a portable space heater, make sure it has an automatic shut-off switch and non-glowing elements and is placed at least three feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or other flammable materials.
- Never using generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows. The fumes are deadly.
Start your winter preparations by securing your house. Winter is when most home fires happen, and heating is the second leading cause of home fires. Check out this Home Fire Safety Guide for tips on ways to keep your home safe.
Here are other ways to keep your home warm and safe this winter:
- Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector and make sure the batteries are working.
- Never leave lit candles or other flames unattended.
- Have your chimney or flue inspected every year.
- Keep blinds and curtains open during the day to absorb heat from the sun. Close them at night to keep the heat from escaping.
- To save on heating bills, close the doors and shut the vents of rooms you are not using. Keep the basement door closed.
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
- Insulate walls and attics.
- Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls so your water supply will be less likely to freeze.
- Repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on your home or other structure during a storm.
Make sure your car is travel ready for the winter.
- Check the forecast and road conditions before you leave.
- Check antifreeze level and have radiator system serviced.
- Replace worn tires and check tire air pressure.
- Always carry extra warm clothing and blankets with you. Don't rely on a car to provide enough heat. The car could break down.
- Keep an emergency kit for your car.
It is important to take careful precautions to ensure food safety after a power outage (en español). Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. Discard any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40° or higher for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
Just remember, “When in doubt, throw it out!”
Here are basic tips for keeping food safe following a power outage or flooding.
Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods (en español)
Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.
Have at least one of the following heat sources in case the power goes out:
- Extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm winter coats
- Fireplace that is up to code with plenty of dry firewood or a gas log fireplace
- Portable space heaters or kerosene heaters. Check with your local fire department to make sure that kerosene heaters are legal in your area.
- Do not use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
Use space heaters safely.
- Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements.
- Keep heat sources, like space heaters, at least 3 feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or other flammable materials. Never cover your space heater.
- Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
- Never leave children unattended near a space heater.
- Make sure that the cord of an electric space heater is not a tripping hazard, but do not run the cord under carpets or rugs.
- Avoid using extension cords to plug in your space heater.
- If your space heater has a damaged electrical cord or produces sparks, do not use it.
Know shelter locations in your community that open during inclement weather or outages. Go to a shelter if you are not able to heat your home safely.
Use generators and other appliances safely.
- Use generators outdoors. Never using generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows. The fumes are deadly.
- Generators should be located at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent and in a space where rain and snow will not reach them.
- Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector.
- VDH recommends these precautions to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Plug in appliances to the generator using individual heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords.
- Do not use the generator or appliances if they are wet.
If there is a power failure:
- Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles, if possible. Candles can lead to house fires.
- If you do use candles, never leave lit candles unattended.
- Visit What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage for more information on power outage safety.
- Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from an electrical surge.
Natural disasters can make it hard for parents and caregivers to feed their infants and young children safely. These tips provide information for feeding your young child during an emergency.
Infant Feeding FAQs (en español)
Breastfeeding During Disasters
Here are additional ways you can conserve heat in your home during a power outage:
- Some gas-fueled heaters, such as vent-less gas fireplaces, require some ventilation. Otherwise, if you don't need extra ventilation, keep as much heat as possible inside your home.
- Avoid unnecessarily opening doors or windows.
- Close off unneeded rooms.
- Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
- Close draperies or cover windows with blankets at night.
Babies
Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because they lose body heat more easily than adults. Follow these tips to keep your baby safe and warm during the extreme cold:
- Remove any pillows or other soft bedding. These can increase the risk of smothering and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Dress babies in warmer clothing such as footed pajamas, one-piece wearable blankets, or sleep sacks.
- Try to maintain a warm temperature inside your home. If you're not able to keep your home warm, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere.
- In an emergency, you can keep your baby warm using your own body heat. If you must sleep, take precautions to prevent rolling on or smothering your baby.
Older Adults
Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity. Check on older friends and neighbors often to make sure their homes are heated properly.
If you are over 65 years of age, check the temperature in your home often during extremely cold weather.
Extreme cold can cause water pipes in your home to freeze and sometimes rupture or break. When you are expecting very cold or freezing temperatures:
- Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.
- Keep the temperature inside your home warm.
- Allow heated air to reach pipes. For example, open cabinet doors beneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
- If your pipes do freeze, do not thaw them with a torch. Thaw the pipes slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer.
- If you cannot thaw your pipes, or the pipes have broken open, use bottled water or get water from a neighbor's home.
- As an emergency measure, if no other water is available, snow can be melted for water. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most germs but won't get rid of chemicals sometimes found in snow.
- Learn more on how to use safe water after a natural disaster or emergency.
Pharmacy Waiver
In response to Executive Order 45 declaring a state of emergency due to winter weather systems and flooding that has displaced individuals, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, pursuant to its authority in § 54.1-3307.3, has implemented certain emergency waivers as of February 16, 2025. Such emergency waivers will remain in effect for the duration of Executive Order 45 which shall remain in full force and effect for 30 days from February 10, 2025, unless sooner amended or rescinded by further executive order. Read the full waiver here.
For More Information:
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News Releases
VDH Offers Free Testing for Private Wells Impacted by Recent Flood
LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts Encourage Tetanus Vaccine Following Recent Floods
VDH Closes Portion of the James River to Shellfish Harvesting
Richmond to activate Dock Street floodwall
Governor Glenn Youngkin Submits Request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration