The Bulletin

State of emergency declared as Michael’s remnants barrel into Virginia

By: Robert Zullo - October 11, 2018 2:39 pm

A tornado watch is in effect for much of Virginia as the remnants of Hurricane Michael hit the state. (Image via National Weather Service, Wakefield).

Gov. Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of severe weather from the remnants of Hurricane Michael, which made landfall Wednesday on the Florida panhandle.

“As Tropical Storm Michael turns to the commonwealth, I want to urge all Virginians to prepare for the serious possibility of flash floods, tropical storm force winds, tornadoes and power outages,” Northam said “I am declaring a state of emergency in order to provide state assets to Virginians and to assist our neighbors in states who are dealing with the devastating effects of this historic storm. My thoughts are with all those along with the Gulf Coast and my administration will continue our outreach to governors and state agencies where Hurricane Michael has produced widespread damage.”

The National Weather Service in Wakefield, which has a tornado watch in effect for much of Southside, central and eastern Virginia until 9 p.m., said “the environment is favorable for tornadoes this afternoon/evening.”

Heavy rain is also forecast across much of central Virginia.

A tornado watch is in effect for much of Virginia as the remnants of Hurricane Michael hit the state. (Image via National Weather Service, Wakefield).

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Robert Zullo

Robert spent 13 years as a reporter and editor at weekly and daily newspapers before becoming editor of the Virginia Mercury in 2018. He was a staff writer and managing editor at Worrall Community Newspapers in Union, N.J., before spending five years in south Louisiana covering hurricanes, oil spills and Good Friday crawfish boils as a reporter and city editor for the The Courier and the Daily Comet newspapers in Houma and Thibodaux. He covered Richmond city hall for the Richmond Times-Dispatch from 2012 to 2013 and worked as a general assignment and city hall reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from 2013 to 2016. He returned to Richmond in 2016 to cover energy, environment and transportation for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He grew up in Miami, Fla., and central New Jersey. A former waiter, armored car guard and appliance deliveryman, he is a graduate of the College of William and Mary. Contact him at [email protected]