Hurricane Matthew: Gov. McAuliffe Signs Emergency Order to Help with Relief Efforts

RICHMOND – Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Thursday for Virginia to give state agencies and private entities the authority and resources they need to support relief efforts in states affected by Hurricane Matthew.

“While current forecasts indicate that Virginia will be spared of the worst impacts of Hurricane Matthew, I want to emphasize the importance to Virginians of preparing for the possibility of some hurricane-related rains and minor flooding, primarily in coastal areas,” said McAuliffe in a news release announcing the action.

“Even if this storm misses Virginia, we have a responsibility to our sister states to facilitate efforts to respond to this disaster and keep families safe," he said. "This order will help get crews, equipment and relief supplies into the states most-impacted by Matthew, and we stand ready to provide additional resources as necessary."

“Finally, I want to thank the members of our Commonwealth’s two urban search and rescue teams, Virginia Task Force One and Virginia Task Force Two, who were dispatched to Florida last night at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency," he said.

Also read: Hurricane Matthew: Fairfax County Sending First Responders to Florida to Help

"These men and women are among the world’s most elite emergency response teams, and Dorothy and I will continue to pray for their safety along with all of the families and communities impacted by Hurricane Matthew," McAuliffe said.

Virginia Weather Forecast: Will Hurricane Matthew Impact Weekend Weather?

The governor’s Executive Order 60 authorizes the Virginia State Police (VSP), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to grant temporary overweight, overwidth, registration or license exemptions to all carriers traveling through the Commonwealth to transport essential emergency relief supplies or provide restoration of utilities in areas impacted by the hurricane, regardless of the carriers’ point of origin or destination.

While Hurricane Matthew’s impact on Virginia is expected to be limited to some rain and localized flooding, current reports indicate severe damage and property loss across the east coast of Florida and the possibility of significant threats to other southern states.

Watch a video here of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Richard Bowers Jr. addressing county employees and others heading to Florida Thursday to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew:

PHOTO: Members of Virginia Task Force 1 from Fairfax County, an urban search-and-rescue team, prepare to head to Lakeland, Florida, where they will help with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.